Currently in the production phase, “Words: The Power and Limits of Language” is set to be an immersive, interactive room installation designed to deeply explore the role and impact of language in our lives. Once completed, the installation will invite visitors into a carefully crafted environment
where they can experience firsthand the significance, limitations, and evolution of words.
The installation will be housed within a wooden structure, dimly-lit, and spacious enough for an adult to stand comfortably. The structure aims to provide an intimate, private atmosphere. Inside, the installation will include a desk with a large monitor, a bench for visitors to sit and absorb the experience, and an entrance that allows visitors to step into and out of this thought-provoking setting.
The core of this upcoming installation is a collection of films, which are currently being compiled. These films will portray various human interactions where language is used to convey strong emotions, beliefs, and messages. From historical speeches by prominent leaders to acted scenarios, the chosen clips aim to demonstrate the power, flexibility, and occasional inadequacy of language.
Accompanying the visuals will be an audio track that sometimes aligns with the video but at other times contradicts it, showcasing how our expectations and biases can sway our interpretation of words.
Despite not requiring physical interaction from visitors, the installation is being designed to engage them on an intellectual and emotional level. It hopes to facilitate an understanding of our vulnerability to words and our embeddedness in societal beliefs and identities – especially in times of artificial content production.
The project subtly comments on the currency of words, exploring how we trust them for communication and understanding. It underscores the notion that words are vessels that carry meaning, a meaning that is constructed, sometimes wrongly, within us.
As a solo creator of this project I am diligently gathering and compiling media, engaging participants to act out scenes, and incorporating historically significant speeches. Once complete, “Words: The Power and Limits of Language” will be open to everyone, although it may be most suitable for individuals aged 12 and up due to the depth and complexity of the concepts being explored.
In its exploration of language, the installation seeks not to prescribe conclusions but to ignite introspection, prompting visitors to ponder the responsibility of both the speaker and listener in shaping our shared experiences of communication.
