Eengeeleesee
Screen Print on Felt
47.2x63 in. (120x160 cm) ea.
2014
Eengeeleesee addresses how English is taught to others elsewhere. The title refers to the phonetic pronunciation of the word ‘English’ in Farsi. When this body of work is shown in Iran and other non-English speaking countries, a tacit expectation exists that the viewer understands this foreign language and can read the texts. Even if the viewer speaks and reads English, the separated book pages selected by the artist expose the limits of (teaching) a language.
This tongue twisting title satirically emphasizes the role of mispronunciation in corresponding contexts within translation. Using silk-screened enlargements of pages taken from an English-language workbook, Engeeleesee plays with the practical function of language and relies on assumptions, mistranslations and misinterpretations as the basis of communication.
© Ghazaleh Avarzamani 2023