Esther Stocker (b. 1974, Italy)
Untitled, 2010

Multiple grids superimposed render something new – a dynamic and seemingly chaotic image that nevertheless very ordered if deconstructed into its constituent grids. It’s almost like chaos theory – illustrated.

My relation to this type of work is very conceptual. My works often consist of numerous layers of meanings superimposed rendering something new. My interest is not so much in realisation of a vision of the final appearance of the work as in finding elements that can be combined – and ways of combining them – so that unforeseen new possibilities for interpretation would emerge. Then it is up to the audience to choose their engagement strategy – to deconstruct as a way to “bring in the order” and receive satisfaction as “having solved the riddle” – or to appreciate the uncertain, the emerging, allowing themselves to think something unthought before. Both kinds are welcome, but I tend to find the latter more interesting to exchange thoughts with.

…and, after looking at Stocker’s works, I am also tempted to employ this strategy even more deliberately (as this realisation has come as an afterthought about things I’ve been doing intuitively)… her works are both beautiful and very good to think with…