To read or not to read; that is the question. As a dyslexic artist, reading written text is difficult. I ask the viewers what if the English Language was seen through a phonetic lens? This paradoxical idea seems outlandish as the English Language is not phonetic. As we all know, this language is known for creating rules for spelling and grammar yet conveniently has words exempted from said rules. Why have them to begin with? The English Language is exposed here for its all-consuming combination of other languages that are frequently inconsistent and contradictory.  No wonder other dyslexic individuals and non-native speakers have trouble with this language. 

       Poetry has an interesting dichotomy of conveying personal emotions while staying private in the public eye. Frilly language and deep symbolism touch the core of human emotions. This pulls at the reader's heartstrings as they relate to the written text. My poems are written in phonetic English, thus engaging the viewers to struggle to read. The phonetic letters and characters are cut in the Times New Roman font as a way to reclaim the standardized formal qualities into something unfamiliar and foreign. Patience is key for the viewer to maintain as they attempt to finish reading the poem before they give up and move on. This coded language plays with my ability to share deep emotions from afar. If the viewer is determined to decode the message, then they will be able to interpret the artwork at hand. So slow down and sound it out.

Bio:

       Hello, my name is EJ Lee, I am a mixed media collage artist living in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. I received my Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art and a Minor in Art History at McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland in 2015. I then received an MFA in Interdisciplinary Art at Maine College of Art and Design, in Portland Maine, in 2020. My practice involves uncovering the complexities of the English Language through my poems from a dyslexic perspective. I have been featured at an Art fair Modern Art  Masters in Complex de Louvre on October 18-20th 2024 at Carrousel du Louvre, Paris France, sponsored by the PAKS Gallery, the 39th annual  National Collage Society juried show at Kean University in 2023, and at Impact Gallery for their juried show “Golden” in Washington DC in 2018. I enjoy baking and spending time with my friends and family by going out and exploring the city in my free time. I am open for commission, so please email me at ejleeartist@gmail.com and follow my work on Instagram @ejleesartwork, I would love to hear from you.