Nature Of Language by José Parlá

NATURE OF LANGUAGE by JOSE PARLA from Jose on Vimeo.

Artist: José Parlá
Year: © 2013

Medium: Gesso, Acrylic, Ink, and Gamvar on wood 

Size: 12 x 12 feet

Member: Artist's Rights Society, New York

Artist's Statement:

This is a written painting for and about the nature of language, an abstract landscape of words, phrases, names, and poetic thoughts inspired by drifting through Raleigh while on walks and visiting unexpected places through a playful survey that eyed various historical resources on a psycho-geographical exploration of the city.  The painting is a reflection of my awareness - a diary of these experiential observations that form the syntax of its visual vocabulary.

Although illegible at first sight, the juxtaposed characters, gestures, hieroglyphs, and words become readable through feeling, as it is my hope that the work evokes the language of your own inner voice - of your own history.  In an era when technology is taking over as the driving force of communication, art reminds us of our roots and our need for face-to-face communication.  This Nature is our mirror, as art allows this bridge to be possible through the language of calligraphy, I pay homage to this Nature and the history of languages, which are the mirrors of our present condition.  

I found inspiration in the essence of words and their combined power. However abstract, this landscape of gestural forms and characters serves as a carrier of meaning for the viewer to read into or feel the Nature of its universal language, and putting grammatical forms on hold.