abstract art alphabet david stein

Created in 2012, ‘Symbols’, the alphabet is a fully conceived conceptual work.

26 symbols consisting of the most basic and familiar shapes to correspond to the 26 letters in the English alphabet. This concept work is foundational to my practice, the shapes used act as a self imposed constraint and through-line in my output.

By design, using simple, universally recognizable shapes is meant to create a familiar feeling that draws you in, take pause and question what you are looking at. That is the goal. For those interested in a deeper meaning and understanding, the alphabet is decipherable (with a little effort) to provide a literal meaning to the work.

Some might notice cuneiformic influence which may or may not be a statement on the regression of society at large, is our forward progress actually taking us back?

-DAST