Empty Words

Empty Words
Jürg Lehni & Alex Rich (London, UK)

In 2005, together with Jonathan Hares, a pair of drilled posters were made as a contribution to The Free Library, curated by Mark Owens. This prompted the exploration of possible methods of mechanised production. Using a standard CNC plotter, a rotated LCD display, an Apple TV, and a software interface, Empty Words cuts each dot of the poster in sequence at a controlled speed. Similar to a Linotype machine, the resulting device became a tool for the production of text works, used by both ourselves and the general public.

The publication features the following playlist selected by Lehni and Rich during the installation of Empty Words at the Swiss Institute, New York, 2009.

Plastics - I Love You, Oh No
Augustus Pablo - Suki Yaki
First Floor Power - There Is Hope
The Books - Take Time
The Books - Read, Eat, Sleep
Pavement - Cut Your Hair
CAN - Oh Yeah
Robert Wyatt - At Last I Am Free
Melon - I Will Call You
Pavement - Black Out
Pavement - AT&T
The Beatles - Good Night