Writing as Art/Art as Writing

2/15/2017

Codex Zouche-Nuttall, British Museum

Mixtec peoples"…had many books…that the historians inscribed with characters so abbreviated, that a single page expressed the place, the site, province, year, month, and day with all the names of the gods, ceremonies, and sacrifices, or victories that they celebrated, and recorded in this way by the sons of the lords…their priest had instructed them since infancy to illustrate the characters and memorize the histories…I heard some elders explain that they were accustomed to fasten these manuscripts along the length of the rooms of the lords for their aggrandizement and vanity, they took pride in displaying them in their councils."
(Friar Francisco de Burgoa, A.D. 1674)
source: http://www.famsi.org/research/pohl/jpcodices/pohlmixtec2.html

As an artist and scholar, my interests lie in the intersections of writing, art, and archival work. Works like the Mixtec Codices intrigue me. The lines of writing and art blur; the stories emerge. Much has been discussed among scholars as to what is writing, what counts as writing, or should all early communicative acts be read as texts. Handcrafted objects tell stories, just as we do through alphabetic means. Human beings strive to have their stories heard through various means.

19th century basket

We might think about graffiti and how that works upon the social consciousness. We can think about how objects, drawings, clippings and more inspire our writing, stretch our minds.

How do you understand these intersections, these blendings?

7 Comments

Sydney Cabral

2/16/2017 06:36:42 am

I have always thought about graffiti as an under appreciated art form. I understand that many people dislike it because it vandalizes property in many cases.While I agree that people should not be using other people's building as a canvas,I had learned in a previous art class that many respected graffiti artists ask for permission to draw where they want, or they simply draw on an abandoned building.What I love about graffiti is it's voice inside urban areas. It is both art and a way of saying how you feel. This example that we have been given features the word "poverty". That in itself is a powerful message, for many people in urban areas are living in poverty. What I find interesting about it is the colors that were used. They are all bright and happy colors. This made me think that perhaps the artists is trying to say people ignore poverty for happy things, or turn a blind eye to it because it makes them sad or they do not know what to do about it. This forces people to look at what is really look at what is going on, and I think that is so powerful.

Aliza Nantais

4/24/2017 03:48:05 pm

I agree very strongly, I love this piece and all that it entails, along with your opinions of it. I find this art to be fascinating, inspiring and very powerful. I think the ancient art stories and how they expressed themselves is very powerful, that it should still be practiced. I think any kind of "art", whether it's writing, graffiti, poetry, music, sculptures, paintings, etc., has a power that words can't reached. Each art form holds within it so much power, creativity and inspiration. I understand why in the cases of graffiti, it may be shunned upon, but I think it is unfortunate to because of the power art of any form can hold and reached out to so many people.

Kaleigh Longe

2/16/2017 12:32:24 pm

I totally agree that graffiti is an underappreciated form of art. One of my favorite pieces of graffiti that I saw once online was a series of phrases which the artist spray painted onto a wall, which told a story. The story described how "Once Upon A Time" a story appeared on a wall, but the story only progressed when someone painted over the graffiti, and so a strange harmony was found between the artist/ storyteller, and the person painting over the graffiti. I thought this art project/ story really said a lot about the determination of graffiti artists to leave their mark on the world. I also shows a strange resilience, and made me wonder whether the owner of the wall started painting over the graffiti just to get more of the story. I thought this was a really clever project, and to discount it as simply vandalism or crime would take away from the value of it.

Parker Jones

3/8/2017 08:44:37 am

Language through art is something that is not addressed or considered in our current culture. People seem to often operate under the idea that whatever form of communication or recording is currently being used is the most advanced form. The way that stories are told through art in the images above adds a layer of culture to how these stories were recorded. By using images rather than written word the stories can translate into the culture for generations; being applied in a different context depending on the needs or struggles of that particular generation of people. I think graffiti can operate in much the same way as these artistic recordings did. Specifically because it is illegal, the act of doing it suggests a context underlying the desire to rebel. It also suggests a continued rejection by society towards art as storytelling or valued.

Matt Howard

4/6/2017 07:35:33 am

I think graffiti is in a league of its own. Its out in the world and in places where you least expect it, it can show raw emotion of the person who did it. It is also a good way to get a sense of underlying culture in the area. I personally think that graffiti is better than modern art and while most think graffiti isn't art but something thats destructive I think in some cases graffiti is art. It makes you look at something as simple as a building and changes it into something completely different.

David Creed

5/3/2017 10:57:22 am

Graffiti is a really interesting component. I always used to look at graffiti as something that vandalized and ruined property or land, but as I have grown older my opinion has somewhat changed. Believe me when I say that I still believe there are a lot of instances where I believe graffiti is destructive and inappropriate. At the same time however, I look at graffiti as something that helps people express themselves and give the general public a look into the ideology of a given area. There are instances where graffiti is great and a fascinating form of art, but their are also other times where it is wrong and destructive. Graffiti is great when it is sending a positive/important message, but not when it is simply a picture of something graphic or inappropriate that shouldn't be out in the public for people, especially children to see.

Tristen Merchant

5/9/2017 01:28:12 pm

I have always had an interest in graffiti when it is done in a meaningful and unoffensive manner. While many view graffiti as being inherently destructive, there are certain circumstances where graffiti can have a truly profound message and, as a result of this, the site of the graffiti actually seems to look better than it did prior. I also really enjoy the aspect of competition that accompanies this art. Where there is one exhibit of graffiti there are usually two or more exhibits at the same location where, instead of spray-painting over the other works, the new artists spray-paint next to the original painting and attempt to top the original piece. It is unfortunate when graffiti is done in an offensive way such as a simple profanity or something that isn't socially acceptable in a public place.

Writing as Art/Art as Writing

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