beautiful, meaningful scribbling
Western culture usually considers scribbles to be ugly & meaningless.
there are some publications containing beautiful scribbles, which also suggest that they have meaning.
Seismosis, by John Keene & Christopher Stackhouse (1913 Press, 2006)
[http://www.journal1913.org/seismosis.html ]
contains images by Christopher Stackhouse which could be described as controlled scribbles or automatic drawings. John Keene wrote a series of short, intelligent, poetic texts as responses to Christopher’s work. The book evolved as a conversation between the 2 of them.
Le penne in pugno, by Monica Dengo (Giannino Stoppani edizioni, 2007)
[http://www.monicadengo.com/134.html]
is a workbook for children of all ages to explore rhythmical writing, & the joy of making marks. It’s about having fun, not writing legibly.
Jardin botanique, by David Turgeon (éditions colosse, 2006)
[http://www.davidturgeon.net/publications/2006/10/jardin-botanique-un-extrait]
is a collection of loose, scribbly comics/bandes dessinées, by musician & BD artist Turgeon. They make me think of the Chinese legend that humans developed handwriting after observing Nature: marks on trees, animal footprints, & so on. Apparently the first edition is already sold out, so maybe ask Jimmy Beaulieu of Mécanique Générale & Colosse (jimmy.beaulieu @ gmail . com) to consider printing more, en français, if you’re interested. Possibly the roughest comics ever published.
Analyzing Children’s Art, by Rhoda Kellogg (National Press Books, 1969 & others)
[basic scribbles shown at http://www.newhorizons.org/spneeds/inclusion/learning_window/4window.html]
examines the stages in learning to make marks, & learning to assemble compositions, by young children. She identified commonalities in the art made by children from around the world. Rhoda identified 20 basic scribbles, which children learn to use, to construct 6 fundamental diagrams: rectangle [including square], oval [including circle], triangle, Greek cross [+], diagonal cross [X] & odd shape. Complexity grows when 2 diagrams are used in one composition, which she calls a combine, & 3 or more diagrams at once, which she calls an aggregate. The inclusion of "odd shapes" as a fundamental form is revolutionary. It covers all of the asymmetrical shapes which have no specific names in our languages. Reminds me of Ezra Pound’s comment that no-form is also a form.
What do these scribbles mean? Interpretation seems to be personal. In an instant, we can detect calmness or agitation, control or looseness, complexity or simplicity. Some appear elegant, while others look messy. Meaning emerges from the subtleties of a scribble’s shape, & what it suggests to us. Reading scribbles seems to be intuitive & non-verbal more than an intellectual & verbal process.
posted by Tim Gaze
