Cut-up artist alphabetizes the newspaper

Kim Rugg is a Canadian visual artist with a very sharp knife and a lot of patience and glue: she newspapers, stamps and other paper ephemera up, letter by letter, and makes does delightful and demented art like newspapers in which all the type has been rearranged in alphabetical order. The work is a beautiful and provocative commentary on the form and content of print media.

Kim Rugg - A London artist's knife skills and knack for precision

Kim Rugg, Mark Moore Gallery

I write books. My latest is a YA science fiction novel called Homeland (it's the sequel to Little Brother). More books: Rapture of the Nerds (a novel, with Charlie Stross); With a Little Help (short stories); and The Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow (novella and nonfic). I speak all over the place and I tweet and tumble, too.

MORE: Art and Design • newspapers

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PaulR

Not just the type, she’s also rearranging the pixels!
ChibiR

Holy crap… my jaw just kept dropping with each new project she showcased. I’m amazed by her dedication and patience.
Greg323

OCD. They have meds for that..
- Elmo Gearloose
  
  You mean CDO, don’t you?
  - freshacconci
    
    Damn you. I actually started to google that…
- freshacconci
  
  In all seriousness, and I know many others have asked this question before me, but how many future artists have been “cured” by medication? I guess the other side is, should artists suffer or make art? Obviously, not all artists have a mental disorder, nor do you need to have a mental disorder to make great art. But it sometimes does happen.
  
  If van Gogh had the choice, would he have continued down the path to suicide or would he have taken some pills and been happy?
  - BookGuy
    
    From what I’ve read (and in my own humble experience), artistry itself is never “cured” by medication. The idea that mental illness provides inspiration or insight is probably at least part true, but in reality, mental illness isn’t a boon to creative output–it crushes it. You just don’t get a lot done when suicidally depressed or besieged with hallucinations. I’d like to think that Van Gogh on medication would have given us more Van Gogh paintings to enjoy.
    - freshacconci
      
      Good response. I think you’re correct: van Gogh could have produced more, lived longer and actually had a happier life.
  - Martin DeMello
    
    Doctor, you say that there are no haloes
    around the streetlights in Paris
    and what I see is an aberration
    caused by old age, an affliction.
    I tell you it has taken me all my life
    to arrive at the vision of gas lamps as angels,
    to soften and blur and finally banish
    the edges you regret I don’t see,
    to learn that the line I called the horizon
    does not exist and sky and water,
    so long apart, are the same state of being.
    
    – Lisel Mueller, from “Monet Refuses the Operation”
2k

If Kim had taken one of those letters to her post office and handed it to an employee I think it would have gotten through without the charge.
hmm, I feel like if one had gone through the post as a stamp it would have more… oomph.
Present oomph notwithstanding.
spleen

this could have been done in about 2 seconds in Photoshop.
(what symbol is used for understated? I will use emphasised.. can’t.. will use distance instead)

I don’t use photo shop
- Anonymous
  
  Actually it wouldn’t be that much quicker in Photoshop … it’s not a magic hat, it’s a digital tool.
Art

Truly a “Beautiful Mind”.
Anonymous

So thin the line between artist and “some crazy person”…

Seriously though, she won me over with the graphic/pixel based work, that is actually really beautiful and cool.
RockMutha

id lkie to see a wlohe neswpeapr dnoe lkie tihs. Now taht wulod be itnretsnig.
pjcamp

She newspapers AND make does? At the same time?
double_tilly

This thread, alphabetized:

– — – … .~. swoon! 2 100% a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a A a A A AAAAAAAA….. AACDEENOPPT! aberration about about about about about above above… ACD-ORT acn actually Actually actually actually Actually adding address admit aesthetically affliction. afraid afraid age, ago, ago, agreed. ah Albany all all all all all all all all. alley. alone alphabet alphabetical alphabetically. alphabetically. Alphabetized alphabetized alphabetized Alphabetized Alphabetized alphabetized also also Although, am amazed amazing an an an an an an an anagram. analysis analyze ancient and and and and and and and and and and And and and and AND and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and and angels, another any any any any anything? anyway. apart, appear appear apply apply apply appreciation arbitrary are are are are are are are arguments. around around arrive arrogant art art art art art, art, art. art. art? artist artist artist. artistry artists artists artists as as as As as As asked asking assembled assessment assessment assessments at at at at At At at authorâ€™s away. bad bad. banish based be be be be be be be be. beautiful beautiful Beautiful beautiful! been been been been before being. believe believe below besieged betray better between between between Bible Bible Bible Bible, Bible, bit bit blade blank blank blown blur blurb BoingBoing boingboing. boon boxes: break break break breaking breaking but but but But but but but but but by by by by by by by by by by called came came canâ€™t canâ€™t canâ€™t.. care carry cartoon caused CDO, cereal cfku Chang: change charge. choice, choose city clearly, cleverly code, collection collection collection collection come comment comment comment, comment? commentary commentary commentary commentary commentary, commentary? common compelled complex computer computing conceptual conceptually conceptually confusing considered construct content content content continued conversation cool, cool. correct: Cory could could could could could crap… crazy creative critique. crushes cured cured cut cut Damn day. dead-on deconstructing dedication deep deeper deeper depressed depth. describes destroy did, did, didnâ€™t difference different digital disagree discovered. discussion discussion, discussions disgustingly disorder disorder, dissenting distance dlouw dnoe do do do Doctor, does does does? done done donâ€™t donâ€™t donâ€™t donâ€™t donâ€™t donâ€™t donâ€™t donâ€™t donâ€™t donâ€™t donâ€™t donâ€™t donâ€™t down down down down down dropping each each edges Edhhooopppst. eemnoos eht eht eilpsx. either. ellt else else emphasised.. employee engage enjoy. enjoying enlighten enough enough. especially essential essential essentially etc. even ever everyoneâ€™s everything everything. exactly except exist experience), explanation. failing featured featured feel feel few few finally find finding first first for for for for for form form form formally formally forms forms found frequencies friend friend from from from From future gas Genome genome; get gets gild give given Gogh Gogh Gogh Gogh going gold gone good good Good good! google got gotten graph graphic/pixel great great group group guess guess had had had had hallucinations. haloes hand, handed happen. happens. happier happy? harness has has has has hat, have have have have have have have have have have have have have have have have he he he hear her her her here. Hereâ€™s hist? historically. hmm, Hmm, hold Holy horizon how how how How how how html: http://www.cabinetmagazine.org/issues/15/chang.php http://www.sfmoma.org/artwork/125794, Human human humble hwy hyperlink hyperlink hyperlinked I I I I I I I I I I I i I I I I I i I I I I i I I I I I I I I I I i I I i I i i I I id idea idea idea ideas, idiosyncrasies idiosyncrasies If If If if If If illness illness imagine importance in In in in In in in in in in in In in in In In in in in in in in in in in in In in-depth inclined. inconsistencies inconsistencies indeed! indeed, individual insight inspiration instead instead instead) intellectual intellectual intended intention intention interpreting into into into into into into into into into investigates investigates involved is is is is is is is is is is is is is is is is is is is is is is is is is is is is is is is is is, isnâ€™t isnâ€™t isnâ€™t it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it, it, it. it. it. itnretsnig. its its its its its its itself itself, itself, itâ€™s itâ€™s Itâ€™s itâ€™s itâ€™s itâ€™s Iâ€™d iâ€™d Iâ€™m Iâ€™m Iâ€™m Iâ€™m Iâ€™m iâ€™m Iâ€™m Iâ€™m Iâ€™m Iâ€™m Iâ€™ve Iâ€™ve jaw job, Just just just just just kept Kim Kim kind know know know know laboriously lack lacy lacy lamps language language language language, leaf learn least ledger letter letter letter letters letters letters letters letters letters, letters, letters. letters.[...] lies life life. like like like Like like like like like like like like line line lines. linguists Link link link links Lisel list lists. literature lived lkie lkie long long longer looking lot love magic make make make make makes makes makes many many maps… matter matter may maybe me me me me me, me. mean meaning meaning. meaning. meaningful media media media. medication medication. medication? meds memes, memetics, mental mental mental mental mentioned message, messages messing might might might Mind. Monet more more more more more more, more… much much Mueller, must must my my my my my my my my my My my my my nailed neat neat need neither neswpeapr never new news news newspaper newspapers next Nifty no no no No, no. no? nobody noisy nor not not not not not not not not Not not not not not not not note, nothing nothing nothing notwithstanding. Now numerology, NYTimes, obvious.) Obviously, OCD. of of of of of of of of of of of of of of of of of of of of of of of of of of of of of of of of of of of of of of of of of of of of offensive offering office Oh, old on on on on on on once, one One one one one only oomph oomph. Oops, Operation or or or or or or or Or, ordered? ordering original. origins other others others others: our out out output–it over owe own own own own P&P page. paintings palette, paper paper, Paris part part particular, paste path Patience, patience. patterns patterns patterns. people people people perfectly perfectly person… Phew. photo Photoshop Photoshop. piece piece piece piece piece, piece. pills pixels pixels! please, point point, policy. Pop possibly post post posted potential power Present present pretentious! pretty Preview… previously, print print print printout probably produced profound project properties properties provided provides provocation provocative provocative provocative provocative? put question quicker quite quote, rate, read reading reads real reality, realize really really really rearrange rearranging rearranging rearranging record red. Refuses Regarding regret regurgitating release relevant remarkable remarkable reminded Reminds Reminds represented representing require response response. right roots Ruggâ€™s rule, rule. Rutherford Rutherford said said said same same say say say say say say, say, say, say. saying scale scientist scientists screwed seconds see see see see see see see, see, seem seems sense, sense. series Seriously seriousness, SFMOMA shapes. share she She she she she she sheets sheâ€™d sheâ€™s shop shop should showcased. showing side similar since, sir. sky slicing smart So So So so so so so soften software some some some some someone something something something something sometime sometimes sort sounds spark spark spots squares stamp started state state state step step still still streetlights strict stuff subjecting subjecting subjective, subtle suffer suicidally suicide supposed sure sure sure surface. Surrealist swoon! symbol symbolic symbolic symbols symbols, system system system system sâ€™pose sâ€™pose, taht taken taken taken taken. taking Tauba Tauba Tauba tell terms than than than than than That that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that.. that… thatâ€™s thatâ€™s Thatâ€™s the the the the the the the the the the The the the the the the the the the the the the The the the The the the The the the the the the the the the the the the The the the the the the the the the the the the the The The The the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the their them then there there there therefore these they they They they they they theyâ€™re thin think think think think think think think think this this This this this this this this this this this this this this This this this this, this. those those those those though, thoughts, threads threads. through through through tihs. time time time? Times tiniest tiniest tiny to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to To to to to to, too too too. tool. toy transition, true, truly Truly trying trying two-minutes-with-Photoshop type, typed, typed-out understand understated? Union. unique unique units, units, unless unsuccessfully up up up up up us use use use use used useful usually vague vague valid valid van Van Van van vibrational video view. vision voice? want was was was was was was was waste water, way way way way way, way, we we We weight weight, weight, well, well. were weâ€™ve what what what what what what what what what What what what when when when when when where where which which who who whoever whole Why why will will will with with with with with with with with within without wlohe won word word word. word. words work work work work work work work work work work, work. work: working working. works world, would would would would would would would would would wouldnâ€™t Wow wow, Writing writing, writing, written wulod x-acto years years you You you you You you you you you you you you you you you You you You you. you? your yourself youâ€™re youâ€™re Youâ€™re
- Ugly Canuck
  
  That’s quite the stutter you’ve got there.
  - double_tilly
    
    Mwa ha ha!
sic transit gloria C.F.A.

My word. What an amazing way to waste time she has discovered. In that sense, indeed, she is truly a great artist.
Anonymous

AACDEENOPPT!
- 2k
  
  P&P to you too.
  Phew.
double_tilly

The next step would be to rearrange the letters into something “meaningful” but different than the original. A disgustingly complex anagram.
Gregory Goldmacher

I can’t imagine how long that must have taken. Patience, indeed!
Jonathan Badger

Reminds me of a cartoon that came out around the time of the first release of the Human Genome — a group of scientists is looking at a printout that reads “AAAAAAAA….”. One scientist is saying to the others: “The good news is that we’ve assembled the human genome; the bad news is that the computer alphabetized it.”
nixiebunny

We must harness this power and use it for good!
Anonymous

Actually makes better reading than the Albany Times Union.
Brainspore

Edhhooopppst. I acn ellt by eht eilpsx.
Anonymous

Writing is not a “collection of letters” — it’s a series of sounds represented by written symbols, and representing ideas, thoughts, arguments. (To state the obvious.) This work might toy cleverly with the symbols of language, but I’m not sure I see how it gets below that surface. I think we all realize our symbolic language is essentially an arbitrary collection of shapes.
warmestregards

Reminds me of this work by Rutherford Chang: http://www.cabinetmagazine.org/issues/15/chang.php
- double_tilly
  
  Link is working. Wow that is really beautiful!
DaveP

hwy eht cfku dlouw eemnoos do hist?
weatherman

In what way is this provocative? In what way is this commentary? I see neither in this.
- freshacconci
  
  That’s too bad.
- Nerdynothings
  
  agreed. “The work is a beautiful and provocative commentary on the form and content of print media.” that’s something people say when they don’t know what else to say, and they don’t think “wow, this is cool,” will make them appear smart enough.
  - freshacconci
    
    And what you said is exactly what people say when they’re afraid they don’t understand art and want to appear above it all.
    - Nerdynothings
      
      i’m 100% not afraid to admit i don’t see any deep meaning or provocative commentary in this art. that was kind of the point of my comment, sir. since, you seem to hold a profound appreciation of the subtle messages in this piece, please, enlighten me.
      - freshacconci
        
        I like this work and don’t owe you an explanation. As a rule, I don’t care for the art featured on boingboing. I’m not into the Pop Surrealist stuff that is usually featured here. So I choose not to engage in the discussions in those threads. I’m not arrogant enough to think that those threads require my dissenting view.
        
        So you don’t like this work. Why are you compelled to comment? You’re not adding to the discussion, you’re not offering a real critique. You only state that nobody could possibly really like this, so they give vague assessments that betray a lack of depth. A “commentary on the form and content of print media” is a perfectly valid assessment of the work and I’m sure Cory could have provided a much more in-depth analysis of the work of he was so inclined. If you got nothing useful to say, why say anything? Just to hear your own voice?
      - Nerdynothings
        
        i guess this is where we disagree “A “commentary on the form and content of print media” is a perfectly valid assessment”
        
        i was just trying to spark a discussion about the piece. clearly, my comment was more offensive than i intended it to be. ah well, it happens.
- daemonsquire
  
  Regarding provocative commentary, everyone’s scale is subjective, I s’pose, no? Here’s a bit of the SFMOMA blurb on the Alphabetized Bible I’ve been trying unsuccessfully to link to, which may share something in terms of comment or provocation with Kim Rugg’s work:
  
  “The Alphabetized Bible investigates the idea that any piece of writing, no matter its intellectual weight, is nothing more than a collection of letters.[...] As the artist describes it, “The intention of my work is to formally and conceptually break language down into its tiniest essential units, and apply the unique properties of the system to the system itself, subjecting it to its own idiosyncrasies and inconsistencies in remarkable patterns.”
  - freshacconci
    
    No, no. You see, I don’t like it so therefore it’s pretentious! “The intention of my work is to formally and conceptually break language down into its tiniest essential units, and apply the unique properties of the system to the system itself, subjecting it to its own idiosyncrasies and inconsistencies in remarkable patterns” is what people say when they don’t know what else to say.
    - Nerdynothings
      
      i do like it, there is a difference between enjoying something aesthetically and finding deeper meaning. If you would have come up with similar words yourself instead of regurgitating the quote, i could believe you found said deeper meaning.
  - Nerdynothings
    
    “The Alphabetized Bible investigates the idea that any piece of writing, no matter its intellectual weight, is nothing more than a collection of letters.”
    
    That makes sense. In response i’d say, instead of deconstructing the message, construct one of importance â€” the alphabet alone isn’t going to change the world, but within it lies the potential to destroy everything.
daemonsquire

This has a bit in common with a piece my friend Tauba did, a few years ago, rearranging all the letters in the Bible, alphabetically. I know Tauba didn’t cut and paste each letter by hand, and I’m pretty sure software was involved at some point, but it was not a two-minutes-with-Photoshop job, either.

I’m also reminded of someone who came into my shop once, where I gild letters, asking about how I might apply gold leaf to these lacy patterns she’d cut from sheets of graph ledger paper, by laboriously x-acto slicing out the tiny blank squares between all the lines. I feel like maybe BoingBoing has posted about her art at sometime previously, unless I’m confusing it with whoever it is that makes lacy paper art taking a blade to the blank spots of city maps…
Tgg161

I love conceptual art, and this video was right up my alley. In particular, those cereal boxes: /swoon!
daemonsquire

Oops, I think I screwed up the hyperlink html: that’s “a piece my friend Tauba did, a few years ago, rearranging all the letters in the Bible, alphabetically“.

Hmm, still not working in the Preview… At any rate, part of that is supposed to be hyperlinked to http://www.sfmoma.org/artwork/125794, but I can’t find how I’m messing up the code, or failing the links policy. I s’pose it’s not quite as dead-on relevant as the link to the Rutherford alphabetized NYTimes, mentioned above… Although, I note, even that typed-out whole address isn’t showing up in hyperlink red. Oh, well. Nifty art, anyway.
double_tilly

If one were into numerology, breaking a newspaper down like this would be a good first step in computing and interpreting the vibrational frequencies of the page.

Or, to put it another way, work like this might spark some conversation about the symbolic roots of letter forms and what sort of weight said letter forms carry from their ancient origins through to the present day. Like memetics, except for individual letters, which are memes, in a way, especially when considered historically.

I believe there are a group of linguists and others who are into breaking down works of literature into alphabetized word lists. It’s a neat way to analyze the author’s word palette, etc.

I think it would be neat to record everything you have ever typed, then break it into an alphabetical list by word.
Anonymous

ACD-ORT
Anonymous

i am blown away. she nailed it.

.~.
jackdavinci

How are the pixels ordered? I see a vague transition, but it still seems too noisy to be a strict ordering rule.