Don't Text Me
The following curation of objects and images deals with a range of very specific themes, to allude to an unspecific area of possible, but vague readings. Banal platitudes, allegedly hidden in a compositional combination, that appear holistic, but in reality aren't. The textual commentary is supposed to sum up an impossible certainty, as to take the viewer in his role as reader by the hand, to guarantee a consensual nodding of heads around the room. Inclusion by words is a set of various employed tools, whose primary goal is the creation of comfortable conditions for everyone involved, but fails to acknowledge the self-congratulatory and lecturing nature of it all in an honest manner. Concretely abstract, as to say: a one-sided dialogue can overextend its own definition, by just trying it hard enough.
You are rolling your eyes at the authors naive attempt to being pretentiously meta, since this comment on the habit of commentating has at least the same negative virtue as pointed out two sentences earlier. In hindsight, this part should have been read out loud - but wasn't. Addressing the reader, or rather soon-to-be-viewer, is a maneuver to create a false sense of intimacy. Although, it could be just the right amount needed to fish for the very least bit of satisfiable curiosity. Now, usually arriving at the middle of the page ones mind started drifting already, as if the interchangeable buzzwords of the latest season lost their initial allure, so soon as they became a mandatory code. Debating on the chances of liking it before first glance, by being fed alleged reasons to turn to the dictated relation of cause-and-effect, through much belated perception. Unironically, the pleasures of being in on it („it“ as in whatever matter is at hand, or in this case: an aesthical configuration of stuff) furthers a distance by the very same effort that wants to lessen it.
A condescending glimpse around the surrounding space double-checks if there is a correlation of what is being seen and what is being said. Unfournately, no matter what the verdict is, performative conditioning gifts you the need to entertain the sheet of paper in your hands with the mere
one liner: „...I don't get it.“ - looking around for splitsecond of approval, while those inaccessible things before us think the same thing back, to no surprise.
Lastly, any attempt at ending with a semi-profound resolution can and should be skipped, if one prefers the possibility of an interpretional high ground.
Joschua Yesni Arnaut, 2024