Dyslexia

used book, motor, motion detector, 2002

Five books-a Bible and reference books such as a dictionary and an atlas-were hanging from the ceiling. In the center of the room, a large dictionary sat on a book shelf. When the viewer approached the book shelf, a motion detector was activated and all the books began to spin. Since they were spinning, books became illegible and whole pages became nothing but big concentric patterns.

The action of approaching deprives the viewer of the chance to read and to understand. I wanted to give the viewer the experience of frustration. It was also meant to be ironic because the act of getting closer-in other words, the desire to understand-prevents comprehension.

Books were motored and wired on the ceiling. The centrifugal force caused them to open gradually and to move around. Like living creatures-barking dogs on a leash-they moved more and more aggressively with rattling sounds.