Lexicon
Drawing upon the legacies of conceptual artists like Jenny Holzer, whose truisms confront societal norms, and Barbara Kruger, whose provocative juxtapositions of text and image challenge viewers' perceptions, my work ventures into the vast expanse of written language captured through a digital medium. Echoing Walter Benjamin's reflections in "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction", I employ the iPhone, a modern tool of mass communication, to document the omnipresent texts that define our urban landscapes and collective psyche.
The mobile camera, long evolved from its initial trivial status, serves as a discerning eye, capturing the textual fragments that speak of our times. It facilitates the identification and preservation of words, phrases, and sentences that, while being static on surfaces, dynamically interact with our ever-shifting societal narratives. This embodiment of textual capture parallels what Umberto Eco illuminates in "The Infinity of Lists", highlighting how enumerations and texts, when curated, mirror the zeitgeist of their epochs.
Embracing primarily a monochromatic schema, I aim to amplify the power of words. By distancing these texts from the cacophony of colour, I magnify their innate potency, allowing them to resonate more profoundly with the viewer. Yet, in instances where colour is intrinsically linked to the textual message — akin to the works of Lawrence Weiner — I permit the vibrancy to remain, symbolising moments where chroma and characters are inextricably intertwined.
The square format, an echo of the balanced frames of classical manuscripts and typographical layouts, provides an equitable space for texts, whether monumental or minuscule, I reflect on the universal essence of language and its pivotal role in shaping discourse.
Lexicon is more than a visual anthology. It is an exploration of our culture's dialogues, debates, and declarations, written on walls, billboards, pavements, and ephemeral surfaces. Through this mobile almanac, I strive to underscore the power of the written word in our visual age, immortalising fleeting messages that, collectively, sketch the narrative of our contemporary existence.
— Moe Louanjli