Semiotica

Semiotics is the study of signs and symbols.

Semiotica was set up as an installation in the small gallery at Entrepot. Four walls were utilized. Upon entry the floor is seen to be covered with sand. In the middle sat a plaster slab depicting signs and symbols from my own 'doodling' I had carved into the plaster. The viewers' movements within the gallery altered the work and added another dimension by the feet of the viewer leaving marks through footprints in the sand.

A long windowed wall held 20 waxed sheets mirroring the same signs and symbols which included spirals, crescents, double helix and atomic configurations, stars, waves, squiggles and arrows. These were hung on taut steel wire with unobtrusive paper clips.

A second wall displayed a series of four doodles collected over a three month period. The general public was asked to drop their doodles into a box for collection placed in the Tasmanian School of Art. I also approached my family and friends for their doodles. I wanted doodles created subconsciously while the doodler was occupied in some other mental pursuit on the phone, in a lecture and so on.

A third wall reflected shadows from three perspex Calderesque mobiles I had attached to the ceiling. The mobiles were made up of the same shapes and symbols illustrated in the doodles and the wax works. Air from a small fan gave the mobiles some movement.

A final wall showed four works of art by Bosch, Van Gogh, Kandinsky and Miro photocopied onto acetate paper. The images were set up the same way as the wall mounted ones with spotlighting and shadow effects; it was up to the viewer to spot the symbols. This wall illustrated how the same signs and symbols (doodles) keep appearing through the ages especially in visual arts.

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