Monk

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Imogen Stidworthy - I hate

Dear Imogen

I am still enjoying the significance of 'I Hate' as I try and formalise my responses to it. My first reaction in Kassel was to its pace and contrast to fast food, fast art. Last night I was made to examine the nature of language and expression but was drawn into the mind of the person trying to reconstruct the words and in this the layout became more symbolic and superbly composed. I had sensed this previously but had this confirmed with the second encounter. The personal struggle combined with the formal is a real masterpiece that unfolds its layers. I haven't been engaged with a work of art this philosophically for a long time. It is paradoxical in that it reveals a constructive process via a reductive aesthetic. The reconstruction from memory prompted by signs and the reduction enabled by contemporary form. I also reckon that your work with language is unique. It is not solely linguistic or solely semantic. I am disappointed that I cannot make your talk as your knowledge and perceptions, I am sure, would be informing on wider matters.

Best wishes

Arnolfini/Imogen Stidworthy