Page 70 - Designing Ways 276

ALL ABOUT
ART

consistency of the presentation of these
catalogue pages, the artist has chosen to
copy some of the most ancient languages
and writings that almost all disappeared
today. The decision to title them with
the German word Schriftbilder becomes
obvious when one understands its literal
translation, ‘’writing image’’, which tells us
how they could be read today. Printing the
pages through photographic means (re)
iterates the idea of their being images. They
become reminders of the former existence
of these ancient languages and writings,
brought back to life in another form and
another context. Interpreting these texts or
understanding their origins is impossible
for the lay person and must remain a
mystery, a theme that runs through many
of the artist’s work. The loss of languages
is a reminder that type does not preserve a
language if there are no longer any speakers
to speak it. Typefaces in the collection of
the Imprimerie nationale can only preserve
the appearance of the language, not the
living language itself. Angela Grauerholz, L’écriture Nägarï, extract from Schriftbilder, 1999
The German graphic designer Anette 20 photograms, gelatin silver print, 40,6 x 51 cm (framed: 48,3 x 61 cm)
Lenz who lives and work in Paris, is one

Joi T. Arcand, êkawiya âkayâsîmo / Don't
Speak English, 2017, Metallic vinyl, on-site
installation at the Winnipeg Art Gallery
Photo credit: Scott Benesiinaabandan

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