Language is Stronger than Light (2014) - Saudi Artist NASSER AL SALEM Unlike Al Salem’s pr
Language is Stronger than Light (2014) - Saudi Artist NASSER AL SALEM Unlike Al Salem’s previous work, which sought to recreate Islamic texts (language) into visual works of art (light), in this series he follows the exact opposite approach. Here, he presents the viewer with mere calligraphic texts referring to certain personal events or scenes on a blank white background, allowing our imaginations to wander on themselves and formulate our own visual images rather than accept his interpretations and presentations of them. Previously, I used to present and interpret a certain text or idea as a visual; now I am reversing that by giving the viewer the freedom of generating their own visual by presenting them with text. (x) Even though Nasser’s earlier work gives the implication that visual images provide a stronger representation of texts, here he argues the exact opposite and leads to argue that construction of memories and experiences through language provides more freedom and space relative to the constraints of visual representations. Thus, the question that his work in its generality leaves is to what extent must we, whether artists or not, employ both of these elements (language/image) in our life. In addition, one must also wonder to what extent does the visual documentation of memories (videos/photographs) shapes on our own recollection of them over time, but most importantly over the loss of the elements of said memories. Don’t Forget to Click on Each Image for Title -- source link
#calligraphy#memory#saudi art#saudi arabia