Hello_World series

Hello_World (2014-2016)

 

Within the theme of the artwork found in the Hello_World series, I consider words that, in my positionality, contain common meaning and expressions. These words, which exist immaterially outside of physical nations and cultures, are then a means to think about and consider the experience of  interconnectedness: person-to-person, and person-to-environment.

 

Letters, used by people(s) to denote the written qualities of their language, are essential media for expressing emotions and thoughts. For the artist, not present at all times with all of their art, finding a way of expressing thoughts on paper about expressing emotion in art is of great importance. Yet, comparing cultural history tells us that language, depending on myriad factors, develops in slightly differing ways from culture to culture, depending on the physical and immaterial qualities of that culture itself. This means that translation, today, is a necessary process to understand and engage with others when communicating from one language to another. With this in mind, the goal of these artworks is a visualization of the common, yet always translucent, expressions within language as a new form of translation.

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For example, a polite “Hello” to an elder in Korean (안녕하세요 /An nyeoung ha se yo), includes the meaning, “I’m glad that you look well rested”. There is a hidden meaning within this that, perhaps in a Western culture, might be considered as insulting or intrusive. Comparatively, and from my own cultural perspective and experiences, it is peculiar to say “Hello” to a stranger in Korea, as this is unusual, and is a considered courtesy not to do so. Whereas saying “Hello,” to a stranger in the United States is considered polite as a means to carry different meanings. These meanings, and their comparative differences, are rooted in cultural and historical traditions and characteristics.

 

The Hello_World series is a conceptual visualization of the pronunciation of the word “hello”, dependent upon the chosen country, culture, language. These details are denoted in the title of the piece:

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Hello_World; [ Country ]

 

The creation of the pieces in the series involved collecting and recording the sounds of word(s) denoting “Hello” in native languages, into digital audio files, as they were phonetically spoken by language educators. Then, I created a computational algorithm and, using the algorithm, extracted digital values in order to arrange sounds by value and pitch. The sound files then generated digital signals which, when sent to a vibrating motor underneath paper, created images made from charcoal powder through its vibration. Finally, after the pigment has settled on the paper, I took a photograph of the result. I also filmed the vibrating process by which the image is created.

 

The sound of phrases and words denoting greetings contains its own cultural and historical nuances, meaning that native speakers’ are able to vocalize their feelings and meanings of “Hello” in reciprocating cultures (e.g. United States english, and British english). Then, by comparison, the meaning of the work contains its own cultural and historical nuance that is without pronunciation, yet open to abstract interpretation by the viewer. 

 

The series of artworks is, by its inception, creation, and viewing, an essence of meaning from the essence of the individual; namely me.