Joel Swanson

Permutations of Heideggerian Erasure, 2011
acrylic / 6' x 5'

The philosopher Martin Heidegger was particularly interested in the problematic concept of “being,” expressly within written language. His solution was to write the term, and then cross it out, to signify that he recognized the problematic nature of the term, while simultaneously recognizing the need for its usage. Permutations of Heideggerian Erasure visualizes the various ways that Heidegger could have chosen to visually signify this philosophical concept.