Humans are implored to create and in turn achieve their set goals, we are taught this notion from an early age and by the beginning of our adult lives we treat goals like sacrament, judging both the our lives and the lives of others on their achievement or failure of such plans.

Perspective is paramount to the idea of a ‘goal’ or ‘outcome’ and hence there are endless case studies of maniacal pursuits of goals ending in tragedy. Upon submitting my most recent collaborative project with Tess, where we explored concept of IKEA as a maze, I felt that we too lost perspective of our goal to outline the labyrinthian aura of the Swedish furniture company and instead became fixated on the most literal of spacial explorations.

Fast forward to the mini presentation of ideas at Testing Ground, I again found myself losing perspective of what was another fascinating concept. As I told the group that Tess and I were going to explore the use of religious iconography used in IKEA, I could feel that I was quickly losing my subconscious grip on my exploration of my goal and falling into a very limiting rabbit-hole of ‘definition’.

I blindly followed this notion of definition for a few more days, focusing all thoughts on direct relations between religious iconography and IKEA, until I decided to ride to IKEA during my uni break. It was there as I for what seemed like the millionth time followed the arrows between the 20-something sections of IKEA, that I noticed what was restricting me and in turn the group.

I was looking for something, something that wasn’t in sight of the naked eye, I had become so preoccupied in our pursuit of the particular explanation of our ‘theory’ that I realised it wasn’t meant to be seen, it was meant to be explored.

AG