In 1996 Lenkiewicz embarked on the largest of all his projects to date. The theme is
Addictive Behaviour. This project is an attempt to define and clarify the basic tenets
that have run through the 19 previous projects. It is intended that Project 20 should
consolidate clearly and simply the common issues. The Addiction project will be divided
into eight sections: Section one will deal with conventionally socially recognised
addictive scenarios, alcohol, drugs, gambling and eating disorders. Section two will
represent the largest single addictive scenario experienced by the human race, cross
culturally and at all ages - falling in love. This section will be the hub of the wheel of
addictions. Section three will deal with theological persuasions. There are over 800
versions of Jesus culture in England alone, a considerable proportion of them in the South
West. The fourth Section will deal with social and political convictions, "I've voted
Tory/Labour all my life" etc. Section five will look at the concept of the family,
" I Love my little Billy but he'd better not play with dirty Johnny down the
road." Children as property etc. Section six will look at the vast and
cross-referential eccentricities of addictions and obsessive behaviours, from
self-mutilation to collecting hosiery. Attitudes towards cars, houses, gardens, and other
'collecting behaviours. Section seven will deal with creativity in relation to addiction.
"I'm a writer/poet/ painter/actor/dancer" etc. Finally, Lenkiewicz will conclude
with section eight on Bibliomania. This project it is hoped, will involve 800 sitters,
from the widest possible range of life experience. Each of the sitters has been asked to
write a minimum of 1000 words on their circumstances and on their opinion as to what
addiction is. By means of this project Lenkiewiez hopes to get closer to the physiological
essentials that may cause 'fanatical belief system' behaviour and to explain the impulse
that many of us have to subjugate private thought for mass thought, private responsibility
for mass responsibility. He does not think there is a more appropriate line of enquiry
than to consider the reasons why individuals and groups of people experience such a high
failure rate in getting on with each other. He observes:
"If the most commonplace and wide-ranging normal behaviours are
likely to offer us a clue to the causes of more concentrated and extremist anti-social
activity, one would have to be foolish indeed not to take the hint. "
Robert Lenkiewicz