INK is a short film about the timelessness of art and its neverending appeal across the ages. A celebration of how we gaze upon these creations by known and unknown hands.

From ancient ochre cave paintings, to high street and national galleries, to the dizzying heights of billionaire private collections. We want to bear witness. To see it, to hold it, to own it. We want to be part of it.

The amateur to the master. The creator to the collector. The muse to the voyeur.

INK reveals one artist's twisted vision to make his admirers part of his art. He has created an ink that when used to draw portraits, turns the subject to ink to spend eternity as jagged pen strokes, trapped forever on paper.

Evil maybe, but a just cause in the name of art to David Shrigley; celebrated contemporary visual artist. True, these superfans are no longer enjoying their lives, but they are now part of history. They are part of something they loved and lived for. It’s what they would have wanted.

Set in David Shrigley’s studio amongst his art and easels, David is interviewed by investigative journalist Nicholas, posing as an art critic. Nicholas believes he’s on the right track working a missing persons story. He thinks that somehow the artist is involved. He confronts him.

Time is running out for David. They’re onto him.

Celebrated visual artist, DAVID SHRIGLEY, has created a magical ink and used it to draw a series of ink portraits.

Uncharacteristically secretive about his new work, there are no prints, no photographs, no social posts, no reviews. No art critic has seen them. Until now.

Investigative journalist, NICHOLAS GEORGE, is working on a multiple missing persons story. He’s discovered a link between these disparate lost souls: they were superfan competition winners, and they all had an inky portrait created by David Shrigley.

Posing as an art critic, Nicholas interviews David to get a better understanding of his prime suspect. During the interview, David talks in detail about his life, his art and his process, but the questions start to get serious.

Nicholas finally confronts David about the missing people, revealing his theory - that David is somehow involved or knows what happened to the missing people.

David realises he is running out of time and invites Nicholas to sit for a portrait.

Against his better judgement, but for the sake of the story, Nicholas agrees and joins David in a side room, strangely covered in plastic sheeting.

As David draws, Nicholas becomes uncomfortable. Fidgeting in his chair, he coughs and splutters and black ink drips from his nose. As David signs the finished portrait, Nicholas explodes into a puddle of ink. David mops him up with a sponge and squeezes him into a jar.

Nicholas’ portrait is pinned to the wall in a room filled with inky portraits to spend eternity trapped on paper.

Starring
David Shrigley as himself
Richard Jayston as Nicholas George

Directed by
Kenny McCracken

Produced by
Clark Left
Nader Taghan

Written by
Clark Left

Story by
Clark Left

Cinematography by
Kenny McCracken

Edited by
Kenny McCracken
Nader Taghan

Music by
Joel Whitaker
Clark Left

Sound Design by
Nader Taghan

Sound Recorded by
Lola Bruce

VFX by
Nader Taghan

Colour by
Kris Vankay