Anyone familiar with desktop publishing knows that lorem ipsum is the beginning of the placeholder text that is used while doing layout work. It has been a phrase that has been on my mind as of late, I know, odd. That is partially because of the song "Sound the Bells" by Dessa. She has written the phrase into song lyrics beautifully... "looks like our writing on the wall is lorem ipsum after all." Seriously, perfection. But it is the meaning, or at least how I interpret the meaning, that makes that stick. It is all about words being placeholder text for what is to come... or in turn words being just that, words, and lacking true meaning or intent behind them.
I've been doing a great deal of writing as of late with two shows coming up and working on this project (outside of what has been posted here) and it is for sure my least favorite part of the whole art making process, or at least I find it the most difficult. How does one put the thoughts and possible emotions behind their work into something that is understandable to most who may read it, while also capturing the meaning behind the work. It is more difficult than it seems. There are times I sit to write work or show statements and think "what a steaming pile" when I'm done. Even though I know I have approached it honestly and tried my best to convey the meaning, I can't help but feel like it is forced at times. Or perhaps it is more of the fact that my work often comes from a very personal place and putting those thoughts and feelings into words can just be daunting.
So, where am I going with all this rambling you may ask? Intent and content (in the sense of significance or profundity). Does the work we make as artists have content to it? I am secure in the fact that most all of my work does. That does not mean I do not paint "fluff" from time to time, but I do try to keep on task as much as possible with the work. But, this idea of lorem ipsum, and placeholder text, in a more broad sense and in relation to this project ties into the concept of purpose or intent, and why content ties into how we speak and interact with others. Are we operating from a place of good intention with others? Are we living our lives in a manner that have good intent? I know I do and say stupid things all the time, I'm human, it is just the way it is. Being haphazard with language and action, in the long run, serves no one. It is annoying at best and disingenuous at its worst. Live, speak, act, make art with purpose and intent. Life is too short to be living in this state of placeholder art, interactions, and language.
No more lorem ipsum would perhaps mean no more rejected stories, or the idea of rejected stories. I am ok with that.
I've been doing a great deal of writing as of late with two shows coming up and working on this project (outside of what has been posted here) and it is for sure my least favorite part of the whole art making process, or at least I find it the most difficult. How does one put the thoughts and possible emotions behind their work into something that is understandable to most who may read it, while also capturing the meaning behind the work. It is more difficult than it seems. There are times I sit to write work or show statements and think "what a steaming pile" when I'm done. Even though I know I have approached it honestly and tried my best to convey the meaning, I can't help but feel like it is forced at times. Or perhaps it is more of the fact that my work often comes from a very personal place and putting those thoughts and feelings into words can just be daunting.
So, where am I going with all this rambling you may ask? Intent and content (in the sense of significance or profundity). Does the work we make as artists have content to it? I am secure in the fact that most all of my work does. That does not mean I do not paint "fluff" from time to time, but I do try to keep on task as much as possible with the work. But, this idea of lorem ipsum, and placeholder text, in a more broad sense and in relation to this project ties into the concept of purpose or intent, and why content ties into how we speak and interact with others. Are we operating from a place of good intention with others? Are we living our lives in a manner that have good intent? I know I do and say stupid things all the time, I'm human, it is just the way it is. Being haphazard with language and action, in the long run, serves no one. It is annoying at best and disingenuous at its worst. Live, speak, act, make art with purpose and intent. Life is too short to be living in this state of placeholder art, interactions, and language.
No more lorem ipsum would perhaps mean no more rejected stories, or the idea of rejected stories. I am ok with that.