Empty Words

<empty words>(2008) in which Jürg Lehni and Alex Rich cooperated is a text-based poster work composed only of holes. Using a gently modified standard vinyl cutter and a custom made software interface, each hole is cut in sequence at a controlled speed. These holes make calligraphic styles and write didactic messages. Running on a modified Apple TV connected to a rotated LCD display, the setup does not offer any layout options and defines a maximum of five lines of text, at an automatically determined type-size, limiting the options for the poster to be produced, while rendering visible the always present limitations of any technology-based system for creative production.

<empty words> is inspired by the fact that Marcel Duchamp published his notes on <the large glass>(1920) in a box with letters consisting only of dots on the lid. In 1960, Richard Hamilton published a typographic and linguistic translation of the box into English as well as the shape of a book, forcing him to interpret the missing letterforms of the alphabet. In addition, Jonathan Hares and Alex Rich completed the alphabet as a digital typeface and manually produced a pair of drilled posters as their contribution to The Free Library, curated by Mark Owens. This prompted the exploration of possible methods of automated, mechanized production.

Alex rich works while residing in Penarth, Wales, United Kingdom. The artist explores aspects of communication which works a kind of tool in a social structure, and put it into practice through multidisciplinary cooperation. The exhibitions in which he participated recently include «Do not look back»(Ancient & Modern / London), «This is serious»(Biel, Switzerland), «Empty words»(Swiss Institute/New York), «Things to say»(Art Museum St. Gallen /the Switzerland), and «A Recent History of Writing and Drawing »(ICA / London).