Words, Shape, Images & Meanings

Tinsley Huo
Sep 3, 2018 · 2 min read

In Barthes’s model, there is sign, which is compose of the signifier and signified.

image/words/sound = signifier

meanings = signified

Throughout history, there are many systems of representation using painting, drawing, writing and singing. Thousands of artists construct these representations based on how they interpret the world. To me, all systems of representation are signifier, and how the participants interpret is signified. The relationship between signifier and signified is not natural connect yet is a process of interpretation. Therefore, one signifier may have different signified according to different minds.

In this project, I want to create a series of image to show my concept — one signifier (image) can have different signified (meanings).

After seeing these images, some people may get the meanings from how the shape represent; some may get the meanings from the words/texts. For example, it is human nature that when seeing a shape like banana, we directly think of banana. But the words on top is “Orange”. The word “Orange” represents fruit orange or color orange. Therefore, one image can have different meaning depending on how we interpret it.

Tinsley Huo

Written by

burn the world x

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