This installation was originally based on a screen, a computer, a receipt printer, and three books. The computer software contained approximately 1,000 phrases or lines of text, which served as building blocks for creating poems. These lines were categorized into three groups - one for each book. By using different books, users could generate different texts.
Each book contained an integrated pressure sensor. By pressing and tilting a book, the user could compose a poem. When the installation was idle, a cluster of words floated on the screen. Lifting one of the books caused an empty text box - a scroll - to appear above the word cluster. Subsequently, a line of text appeared next to the scroll. Pressing the book could change the line, and tilting the book placed the line onto the scroll, prompting a new line to appear. This process continued until the poem was complete.
Furthermore, the setup allowed multiple people to use several books simultaneously, fostering a collaborative space. Afterward, the poem was automatically printed on the receipt printer, providing a tangible keepsake to take along. Additionally, the poem was stored on the blog inkafterprint.dk
The aim of the work was to highlight a common characteristic of digital literature: the necessity of user interaction for the work to make sense. The user had to be active in creating the poem. Only through this interaction could the piece be considered a complete work.
One of the earliest versions of INK (in Danish, Tilfældigvis er skærmen blevet blæk, 2012) featured phrases written by Danish poet Peter-Clement Woetmann. Woetmann later curated a collection of poems - 105 Variations (In Danish, 105 variationer, 2015) - selected from the large number of poems generated using his phrases and published on the blog. The collection received very positive reviews.
The more recent version of INK, also known as the Poetrymachine, is a yellow, furniture-like installation featuring a large screen, three books placed on low pedestals, and three stools inviting users to sit and engage. New sets of phrases were added through an EU project in 2016–2017, involving Danish poet Ursula Andkjær Olsen, as well as Romanian and Norwegian poets.
Five different yellow Poetrymachine installations have toured Danish libraries and other public venues for more than six years. Today, some of the machines have found permanent homes at CAVI and libraries in Thy, Frederikshavn, and Hjørring.
