Shannon Ebner's 'The Electric Comma' Explores Text as Image
In December 2013, Los Angeles-based artist Shannon Ebner unveiled her exhibition, 'The Electric Comma,' at ArtReview. This showcase explores the interplay between text and visual imagery, highlighting letters sourced from everyday environments, such as street signage and graffiti, alongside her own crafted cut-out letters. A notable feature of the exhibit is a video presentation displaying approximately 70 words on a mobile traffic-warning sign, which accompanies monochromatic framed photographs resembling negatives. Ebner's work invites reflection on language and punctuation, including the role of the comma as a moment of pause, enriching the discourse between concepts and the real world.
Key facts
- Shannon Ebner is a Los Angeles-based artist.
- The exhibition is titled 'The Electric Comma'.
- It was featured in the December 2013 issue of ArtReview.
- Ebner photographs text in vernacular contexts like street signs and graffiti.
- She also creates her own cut-out and propped-up lettering.
- The work includes a looped video projection and framed monochrome photographs.
- The text is displayed on a mobile traffic-warning board with LED lights.
- The video flashes 70-odd words at barely legible speed.
Entities
Artists
- Shannon Ebner
Institutions
- ArtReview
Locations
- Los Angeles
- United States