Origins
“I played a video game in which you must solve similar puzzles one after another. After hours of playing, having finally finished the game, I was amused to find patterns that look alike the game’s puzzles in real life. I realized later on that those patterns started to constantly draw my attention, and that I could not get rid of it, It was an obsession. Then I thought: If a stranger could plant this kind of seed in my mind, could I do the same? Could I create a self-induced obsession? What would be the consequences?”
Guillaume Lucas
First photos
Guillaume had to pick a subject for his series. Following the example of the patterns from the game that he could find in real life, he picked safety cones as his subject.
“I picked safety cones because they are everywhere, yet they are invisible to most eyes. I have always liked the shape and color how different each of them is, almost like humans. If I had to be obsessed with a props, it better be something I appreciate, or as Dr Emmett Brown said, “The way I see it, if you’re gonna build a time machine into a car, why not do it with some style?””
Guillaume Lucas
Guillaume began his journey and after forcing himself to take a few dozen photos of safety cones, he noticed changes in the way he was observing the world. He started to notice safety cones more easily, without necessarily looking for them. At this point Guillaume was solely taking photos for the sake of his project and cared about aesthetics of each photos he was taking.
Hundred photos down the road
Reaching a hundred photos taken, Guillaume became amused of his ability to notice safety cones everywhere: In the street, in photos during an exhibition, in newspapers, movies…
He noticed that whatever he was doing, his attention was hijacked once he noticed a cone in his environment. Noticing a cone in a movie would trigger his brain to think about cones, his project, and next photos. His behavior was changing, including how he was prioritizing tasks. As he felt in control, Guillaume was not concerned about those changes yet.
It soon became a strict obligation for Guillaume to take photos of any safety cone he saw, to the point he was ignoring aesthetics and started suffering from frustration when not able to record an image.
“One day, I took a train to Utrecht. Gazing through the window, I noticed the familiar orange shape. I took my camera, but it was too late. I became so angry, the only way I’ve been able to calm down was to hunt and take a photo of a cone once I arrived.”
Guillaume Lucas
Obsessed
Approaching 500 photos taken, not a day went by without Guillaume taking a photo of a safety cone. Not noticing the hints of being obsessed, Guillaume started to ask himself questions on whether he would ever be obsessed and when.
It is only by discussing his project with a friend that he eventually came to the realization he had already developed an obsession.
“I did not realize it was time to stop. I was discussing with a friend about my last trip to The Hague: On my way to take a train, I ran into a construction area with dozens of cones. I tried to ignore the annoying and itchy feeling I had from ignoring the cones. I needed to take that train. Half-way down the road to the train station, I turned back and shot every single cone I found. Quoting my friend “If your decision-making process and priorities changes because of this project, it is starting to be a problem.” I had reached my goal, I was obsessed, and not able to see it.”
Guillaume Lucas
Half Epilogue
Guillaume considers his 2-year experiment to be half of his project. For his project to be complete, he wants to get rid of this obsession and any effect that are still affecting him.
Recovery
Right after his realization that he had reached his goal, Guillaume decided to go cold turkey, judging it was the best option to recover.
To this day, Guillaume is still recovering from his obsession.
Here is a selection of photos depicting his 2-year journey.
