Language in Times of Miscommunication is a thought-provoking book that delves into the complex ways in which language can both facilitate communication and create misunderstandings. The book explores the impact of cultural differences, linguistic nuances, and the use of technology on communication. It also examines how miscommunication can arise due to social and political factors, such as inequality and power struggles. Through insightful analysis and real-life examples, this book provides valuable insights into the challenges of communication in today's globalized world. This publication was written to coexist with the current exhibition at SMoCA.
Designed by the bicoastal, LGBTQ+, and minority-owned studio Polymode, the Language in Times of Miscommunication exhibition catalog is a twofold object—publication and artwork—that complicates the reception of text and image by shifting between clarity and distortion in order to visually manifest aspects of miscommunication. As an extension of the exhibition, this conceptual exhibition catalog features an essay by Lauren R. O’Connell and illustrations of artwork by Kristin Bauer, April Bey, Andrea Bowers, York Chang, Jeremy Dean, Jeffrey Gibson, Jenny Holzer, Christopher Jagmin, Glenn Ligon, Patrick Martinez, Elizabeth Moran, Ann Morton, Polymode, William Powhida, Kameelah Janan Rasheed, Horacio Rodriguez, Safwat Saleem, and Anna Tsouhlarakis.
Publisher: Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA)
Author: Lauren R. O’Connell
Designer: Polymode
Size: 9x11”
Binding: Smyth-sewn, Swiss-bound hardcover
Pages: 141
Publication date: April 2023