Reading #2: Rendell (2003) ‘The Welsh Dresser. An Atlas?’

Ozge Genc
Mar 4, 2018
3 min read

The Welsh Dresser is a great article source to become acquainted with conceptual art: the relation between language (writing) and visual forms. Rendell illustrated reality, usefulness and emotional connection of everyday life architecture, furniture and objects. These unheeded objects, details have a power and role to lock and unlock the senses and memories of the subconscious mind. It is a psychological fact that a mental connection to objects identify personalities, and to preserve the personal identity people actively support their environment. Environment is surrounded by unheeded, interactive objects and details that are able to stimulate the events and emotions. The objects captured by Rendell (2003) ‘The Welsh Dresser’ reflected memories of her family, past which preoccupied her to question her personal identity. Therefore, the Welsh dresser carries a political and cultural importance for Rendell. It is a transparent connection between women in family and time, attaching the past and present.

Rendell used many forms such as photographs, notes, dictionary definitions and language to express the concept (idea) of her article in a style of conceptual art movement. She influenced by the conceptual artist Joseph Kosuth’s ‘One and Three Chairs’ (1965). Kosuth’s artwork illustrated with a chair (object), a digital image of chair and a definition of word chair. All three of chairs did not represent the same or “one” chair, but “three” chairs artistically designed in three different art forms to reflect an idea. However, a presented style of the definition of words (use of language) in both Kosuth’s and Rendell’s work are much powerful. The written words are not counted as visual art still today. People hardly think or imagine of language, words to appear in “art” galleries, museums etc. However, as well as other artists Kosuth and Rendell also proved the importance of language through dictionary definitions in their works. The written words have incredible power to stimulate and change the emotions, perspectives and imaginations of people. The combination of text and image has a history which dates back to medieval temples, medieval manuscript illustrations (Figure1).

Figure 1: Monk fighting off some devils with a club, from the Smithfield Decretals, c. 1300

In time this harmony developed and perhaps the beneficial sides of interplay between text and image did not change. The interaction of text and image allows viewer/reader to easily access and adopt the meaning, purpose of the work.

My own Atlas:

· Through Writing: A diary, to-do list and article

· Visually: A quick line drawing, an image and a structured (diagram) of my object.

In total I responded with 6 different ways to my chosen object which is a keychain. In writing section, I found easier to express my purpose and aim of the object through a diary perspective. Visually, a quick line drawing tells more about my characteristics in art. This approach helped me to realize that I prefer visuality. I found challenging to respond through writing, perhaps it relates to my art background however, these different perspectives will useful for me to be more creative in writing and any visual forms.