Until It No Longer

Until It No Longer – please press HD in video frame for best image quality
UNTIL_ (23)

(Untitled) Portrait of Dad exhibition by Diana Shpungin at Steph
(Untitled) Portrait of Dad exhibition by Diana Shpungin at Steph

Until It No Longer

2007/2011
hand-drawn pencil animation
continuous loop
dimensions variable
edition of 5

2007/2011
49 drawings, each drawing 9″ × 12″, overall 42″ ×60″
pencil on paper, archival mounting and mat board, pickled ash wood

Until It No Longer is based on a photographic death portrait taken by the artist, this would be the last image taken of her father. Shpungin decided to draw the portrait over and over randomly over several years until she became somewhat anesthetized to the image. The final results are presented on custom-fabricated white pickled ash wood shelves as an archive to the process.

Until It No Longer animates the drawings in an endless loop of dissatisfaction, the subject never moves, the image simply flickers, the pencil strokes subtly skip around the page. Based on a photographic death portrait taken by the artist, this would be the last image taken of her father. Shpungin decided to draw the portrait over and over randomly over several years until she became somewhat anesthetized to the image.

Installation photography © Etienne Frossard