Venessa Monokian

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As they relateHandwriting As they relate -- To transmit information in a more and more complex manner is one of the key elements in our lives that de-notes intellectual growth. Moving on further with this idea this work plays with several different levels of imparting information. The work is of a small scale letting only a seductive black and white photograph to be recognized at first. This allows the viewer distance from the work giving them the opportunity to explore the image and search their personal interpretation. Once closer they are handed an additional resource in the form of a carefully chosen word that guides this experience in a new often surprising direction. The aim is to think more consciously about how we look and deconstruct art. How information that is connected to nothing personal becomes more human when a lined with each other.

HandwritingHandwriting Handwriting -- For me reading and writing are extremely labored tasks. The focus needed to process written text into words is demanding. As a result, comprehending what has been written is placed second. This work is meant to show how complex this process becomes when one needs to be fully conscious of every aspect of the act of writing.

26 Characters26 Characters 26 Characters -- This work is meant to simulate my difficulties with the application of phonetic concepts: confronted with these 26, faces one should feel overwhelmed. The implied sounds they hold seem hidden and difficult to decipher.

ChartChart Chart -- The simplistic form of these photographs are meant to replicate the ease of an average reader’s interaction with the alphabet, and to stand in contrast to the work “26 Characters”

MomogesMomoges Momoges -- While working at a local elementary school one child came to my attention. He would sit in class and create wonderful works of distraction for himself. This clearly shows him to be a hands-on learner and more interested in objects physical relationship to each other. The traditional teaching methods of utilizing pencil and paper meant little and could not provide him with the stimuli needed to learn. His teachers saw this as a display of his lack of discipline, laziness and inability to do the work. My intention with this work is to allow the viewer to see these objects as the child does and question the validity of contemporary teaching standers.

PencilsPencils Pencils -- A mass produced piece of essential grade school equipment, a #2 pencil becomes more than just a writing utensil but an outlet for the inability to perform within the classroom environment. The lack of expressing frustration through discussion and/or writing is justified by manipulating a personalized item.
© Copyright of Venessa Monokian 1997-2012