proof of concept & proof that charcoal gets everywhere

The idea:

A map on a wall. Viewers are given a guidebook. The words are strange - some are in another script, others are familiar but jumbled. Figure out where you are - we all start in the same place, because we're all working from the same original text. Pick a direction (they're all correct) and see where you get. Use landmarks to guide you if you get lost. Don't be afraid to start over and choose a different path.

Lines will have variations in color, pattern, etc. to differentiate between translations of the same words, words that follow each other, and words that relate in other ways. Landmarks - colored dots or shapes - will point to notes, citations, etc. that might change the way you think of the word you're currently on.

It's not perfect yet - the lines on my studio wall currently don't mean a whole lot, and most of the landmarks are randomly placed, the words aren't very carefully chosen. It's proof of concept, mostly. What I have worked out is on the yellow sticky notes.

Transcript of text:

BLUE - best guess - filling in blanks - who knows what's underneath? how do we know what was meant? the translator's hand obscures the lost + unrecoverable "truth"

BLACK - translations, words that follow other words, related topics, comparisons

PAGES - working with/over/under others' work, the beliefs we hold, the prior knowledge, the current known connotations

CUTOUT WORDS - hard truths, that cannot - and must - coexist (not sure about this one! trying to make this my doublethink/contradictory truths/hero/man topic, but it's not there yet)

RED DOTS - landmarks. points of interest, maps to show the next step. stop here, take a breath. start again. read a citation or note and reframe your thoughts.