The analysis of the concept of an infinite is inherently contradictory. It remains in a space where it is both impossible to truly comprehend, but despite this we are developing a virtual infinite: the internet. The philosophical infinite is far more archaic and conceptual, as illustrated by “The Library of Babel,” in which Jorge Luis Borges attempts to visualize the universe as a library, with organization and randomness all at once. Similarly, “The World Wide Web” describes and attempts to visualize the “boundless information world” that is the world wide web. In sum, the two pieces of literature attempt the mentally taxing and incomprehensible task of visualizing the infinite, whether philosophical or virtual.
Observation is one of the keystones of artistic creation. Every piece of great art stems from some form of observation of some kind. Whether literal (ie: people on the street) or metaphysical (observation of one’s own internal processes.) As a dancer, music and its observation have been integral to my development as an artist and person. As a result, for my observation in lines project, I made the decision to base it entirely around music: specifically Radiohead’s In Rainbows. I chose this album as it was my introduction to the band as well as guitar music in general. To do this monumental album justice, I took each song and broke it down to a formula, where I counted every guitar note, drum note, piano keystroke, synth effect, as well as Thom Yorke’s voice inflections. From there, I would illustrate those with different colors of pen, and the result is a visualization of each track that reflects the energy and personal meaning of each track. For instance, “Bodysnatchers” is cluttered, formulaic, and heavy, whereas “Nude” is more free, gentle and experimental. This series for me is an exploration of how I experience and process the music I enjoy every day.
For my newspaper project, my goal was to skim each page, omitting anything that did not catch my attention quickly. Additionally, I did this digitally as a reflection of how most individuals receive their news through digital means, leaving print to be seen as obsolete. These works serve as a commentary to the declining attention span of the common individual and how news has to be sensationalized to get the attention of anybody.
The New York City Art Book Fair was a very interesting experience that allowed me to learn about many small creators and publications. The main attraction for me was the Volkswagon Dome, which is where I spent the majority of my time. One publication that especially caught my eye was Phile magazine, a BDSM-aligning publication that highlights artist who incorporate the niche lifestyle into their work. They caught my eye due to the way they used eye-catching, confrontational images as the covers of the magazine as well as how they were selling accessories out in the open, challenging the taboo of sexuality being only a private aspect of life that people do not talk about. Overall, the Art Book fair was a very eye-opening collection of different creatives spanning across countless mediums.