Read Writing (2004)
Read Writing has been performed on numerous occasions, the photos here are from a version of the piece performed by Ric Royer (writing) and Liam Yeates (reading) at 3 Minute Warning at the Exeter Phoenix Arts Center, Exeter, UK.
The piece is for two people (reader and writer), a scroll, and marker. The writer writes improvised text on the scroll as fast as he/she possibly can. The reader attempts to read the illegible writing keeping in time with the writer. The writer may also speak at times, responding to the readers reading.
The aim of the reader is not to attempt an accurate decoding, but is encouraged to freely interpret what is seen, letting the writing read the reader.
The piece is over when the writer reaches the end of the scroll.
This is a piece that demonstrates (exaggerates) the indeterminacy of translation and questions of authorship. Who is the author- the writer of the text or the medium of the text?