Reflection: Rhizome
Sheets spread out.
Sheets stacked together.
The black dots on each vellum sheet symbolize language. When a language evolves, and its use spreads, it changes. By not tracing the dots but by hand drawing the dots randomly on each page, the idea is to convey a sort of multiplicity in the evolution of language. After stacking the vellum paper pieces, I discovered some parts of the dots might overlap, but each layer and each dot were still distinct. As language spreads, each individual interprets it: each person has his or her own approach to the language. The scattered dots imply the randomness and geographic freedom of a language.
Next, I dipped my finger in acrylic paint, and picked up each sheet of vellum paper repetitively. How does the definition of “the original” change with subsequent tracings? Our signature represents our identity; it signifies, “I am this name.” Yet each signature is unique in that no one can sign his name identically each time. By recognizing the traits of one’s own handwriting, one might be able to ascertain if a signature is an original. But if we ask a number of people to sign one specific name, can we really differentiate a person’s signature by his own handwriting traits? Using dots on vellum paper the artist leaves his true mark, his fingerprint. This is unique to only one person, and with the aid of modern technology could be ascribed to only one singular person. This leads to the question of the relationship of truth and art. How can we decipher the hidden truth in art?
Saw this blurb about how people move their cell phones being akin to a ‘fingerprint’ of sorts:
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C01E2D61531F930A35755C0A9649D8B63
So, beyond the relationship between truth and art (which was always suspect anyway), is the larger questions of individuality, reproducibility, and consciousness…
This would be a fun topic to investigate. In Taiwan, people don’t rely on signatures, because it is considered unreliable. I knew students from first grade who imitated their parents’ signature to sign their homework diary. Taiwanese use stamps, the old fashion one that comes with red inkpads.