By De Villo Sloan (Moravia, NY) (June 9, 2017) (AF2 Archive)
Eco-Asemics
By
De Villo Sloan
During the Asemics 16 global, collaborative book arts project circa 2012, participants initially discussed online their thoughts about asemic writing. Project Coordinator Cheryl Penn and I saw this phase as essential during the time when the artists and poets were likely to commence their creative work.
In particular, many images of natural phenomenon and processes were shared that suggested language and textuality. These were “nature pictures” from a diversity of environments, most of them removed from the realm of human activity and habitation. We also agreed upon the use of the term “asemic-suggestive” to describe Eco-Asemic phenomenon. The aesthetic range was wide.
These images quickly became popular discussion topics among the artists. Eco-Asemic image shares grew more compelling; some discovered beauty and others studied and observed decay. Either little or no human intervention was involved in these asemic finds, other than the artists seeing the texts/and symbols in nature, a use of imagination.
Searching for the asemic-suggestive in nature became so central in our discussions at one point that I began calling this asemic genre “Eco-Asemics” as convenient shorthand. As in this post, the primary means of sharing Eco-Asemics was and still is through photo and video. Certainly, other possibilities are employed.
Eco-Asemics are inherently Found Asemics; however, Found Asemics frequently involve human activity and even human desecration of nature.
Eco-Asemics examine nature and natural processes that are removed from the impact of human-centered activity as much as is possible. Thus, Eco-Asemics also explore the archaic roots of language, symbols and written text as it surely connects to human contact with nature.
We constructed this definition of Eco-Asemics by following the paths of artists and writers who are involved in this genre. They are drawn often – certainly not always though – through a reverence for and a communion with nature.
Many who investigate Eco-Asemics have said they gain access to the primal origins of language and sign-making. The experience has a profound impact upon their work.
De Villo Sloan
June 12, 2017
Auburn, New York, USA
(revised August 3, 2024)
-sSs-
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