
Sol LeWitt's Wall Drawing #1246 Scribbles 6 (2007) is part of a series of scribble paintings and was the artist's final project before his death. The work is like a visual magic trick – an illusion that makes the wall appear to bulge both inwards and outwards. Light catches the foremost points, while shadows creep into the depths. The centre of the piece seems to break unnaturally, as if the wall has lost its balance and doesn't know how to meet itself.
Step closer, and the artwork reveals its secret language: a sea of tiny, organic scribbles in varying densities, all contributing to this disorienting sense of depth. The graphite LeWitt uses here – a material he employed both at the start and end of his career – reminds us of the power a single pencil can hold.
What makes this piece particularly special is that it’s drawn directly on the wall, not on a canvas or any other surface. A team of artists has followed LeWitt’s precise instructions to bring the work to life, and in doing so, Wall Drawing #1246 Scribbles 6 can be realised again and again. The art lives on, even after the artist is gone.