Asemic Writing - Seeming Right
Updated: Dec 15, 2021
When I've needed a bit of a creative prompt, I've often searched Google and Pinterest for "abstract art" (and I collect some). Some drawings which intrigue me, and seem to be in the right space between abstract and representational, are those which seem to be line shapes organised in lines.
This is often called "asemic writing", which means "writing without meaning".
Asemic Writing Needs Symbols
Creativity loves limitations. I began this by challenging myself to just draw the digits 1 through 9, in a way that made an interesting abstract.
https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/366621225922099469/ Is it asemic writing? I don't think so: you can probably identify the digits, and they're not very organized.
This next one in fact began as writing an "imaginary signature", which was then simplified.
https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/366621225919429957/
To me it hovers just on the edge of writing
In a different way (i.e. without using letters or digits), this seems close to a kind of hieroglyphic writing:
https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/786935902/unframed-print-large-long-36x12-narrow
I decided to be more direct about it. Again restricting myself to particular symbols, I decorated them (extending lines, adding serifs), and even chopped up and copied bits between them. Perhaps it's the closest I've come to the "real thing".
https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/849029268/long-narrow-wall-art-in-black-and-white
It's a bit "contrived". But I'm happy with its as a design. True asemic writing should be written out, ideally. The ambient musician, Robert Rich (whose music I've interpreted visually), created some fine examples:
