The happening took place outside the train station on the main pedestrian path. We, the participants walked in one direction, slowly with care and attention while the unintended audience of pedestrians rushed past us with a sense of urgency towards the entrance. Here were two conflicting walking paces travelling in opposite directions, creating momentary encounters.

I was walking next to Bethan and our walking paces began to synchronise with each other. Even though we were focussing on different things, we naturally seemed to travel forwards in unison. I remember thinking how funny it was that usually I am the louder one of us two, but I felt so self-conscious of people looking at me whilst Beth very clearly seemed to be in her element, confidently sketching on her arm as she walked – an activity I was very aware that the public would find unusual, especially when there are 27 people doing the same in such a concentrated space. Just as we walked past a stationary taxi, I cannot forget the frowning face of a young lady who walked past us with a “what the fuck?!” kind of glare. I quickly became aware of my own self-consciousness so I tried mindfulness techniques such as counting my footsteps to divert my attention away from thoughts about what the public might possibly be thinking. This helped me keep focus and my forearm quickly became a tally chart; an honest visual account of how I was mentally focussing during a particular moment on that very short walk outside the train station.

After half a minute or so into the task, I felt more relaxed about what we were doing and I began to ponder on the slightly humorous contrast of understanding between the participants and the public within the space. Looking at the route I drew on my arm I can see how I changed direction throughout my walk. I know I moved out of the way for people running to the trains, so because of these brief encounters, it altered my route as well my record of the route, highlighting the crucial relationship between the performer (me) and the audience (pedestrians). This unintentional engagement added substance to this performance piece because the people who passed by will never know how they influenced a simple pen drawing on my forearm; an almost private part of my body with a record of a series of moments, observations and encounters in a very public space.