Night Writing (Tristan and Isolde)

Night Writing (Tristan and Isolde) exemplifies a thwarted perception. Using an image of the aurora borealis as the backdrop, Fernández had an excerpt from the famed tale about doomed lovers translated into braille on handmade paper. Laid atop a mirror, the resultant work is only complete when framed, rendering comprehension impossible. For both those with sight and blindness, the text is unreadable. Like that of the stars in the night sky, the flickering due to the movements of passersby reflected in the mirror only emphasizes our mute wonder.