Diagonale

In our society, written communication is essential — but for many, it presents a significant challenge. Dyslexia is still often stigmatized and predominantly viewed through a negative lens.

The book is a direct adaptation of a world-renowned novel that explores profound moral and philosophical questions around individualism and society. The original text has been digitized, stripped down to words and numbers, and reformatted to match the layout of the source material. Every page is rendered in a custom-designed typeface composed of colorful bars, with each letter of the German alphabet assigned a unique color. The book is translated 1:1 into this visual code. Decoding it and engaging with its content offers a glimpse into the everyday struggles faced by people with dyslexia. “Thinking outside the box” is a quality widely recognized in people with dyslexia. And it's precisely this kind of thinking that unlocks the puzzle hidden within the book.

The schoolboard installation reflects the contrast between society’s high expectations for academic performance and the way dyslexia is still seen as a deficiency — rather than a different, innovative way of thinking. At the same time, it underlines the importance of early recognition and personalized support. The coded texts are based on dictations written by the artist. Each bar represents a letter: vertical bars indicate correct spelling, while horizontal ones mark errors. Word spacing is shown through gaps between the groups of bars. On a used green schoolboard, white chalk-like bars made from a mixture of acrylic and marble dust are arranged with meticulous precision. The number and arrangement of the bars reflect the artist’s own spelling patterns.

D010224_D020224_Paperbacks / First Edition: 2 copies Digital print on recycled offset paper, 100% reclaimed paper, 19.0 cm x 11.5 cm x 3.5 cm 782 page, 2024

D030123_Blackboard / Acrylic-marble dust mixture 128 x 400 x 2.5 cm, 2023

D010422_D020422_D030422 / 120 x 100 x 2 cm (each), oil on canvas, 2022

D090123 / 80 x 100 x 2 cm acrylic on chalkboard, 2023

D070122 / 46,5 x 29 cm oil on chalkboard, 2022