Tomasz Madajczak

Dimensions of Text

“Dimensions of Text” is a series of works I have developed over 19 years, exploring the transformation of thought into words, verbal expressions, and text. My focus is on the form, structure, social function, and meaning of language, examining how it shapes and is shaped by human experience.

At the heart of this exploration lies the concept of feedback loops—where language is not merely a tool for communication but a dynamic process of continuous interaction. This cyclical nature reflects the philosophical idea of language as both a medium and a structure for shaping thought. In particular, I am drawn to the work of philosophers such as Ludwig Wittgenstein, who posited that the meaning of words arises from their use within specific contexts and practices. For Wittgenstein, language is a series of interconnected actions and responses, where the meaning of a word is not inherent but emerges from the social and functional contexts in which it is used.

In this way, my work explores how words and texts become part of a feedback loop, evolving through constant reinterpretation, interaction, and re-contextualization. The relationship between the speaker (or writer), the word, and the audience becomes a constantly shifting cycle, where intention meets reception, and meaning is constructed and deconstructed through ongoing engagement. This cyclical dynamic parallels the philosophical exploration of language as a tool not just for representation, but as a means of constructing reality itself, as argued by figures like Jacques Derrida. Derrida’s notion of “différance” suggests that meaning is never fully stable but is constantly deferred through endless chains of interpretation, pointing to the fluid, ever-changing nature of language.

Through my work, I seek to make visible the feedback loops of language, capturing the echoes of words as they resonate, reverberate, and mutate over time. I focus on the tensions between intention and interpretation, between the original meaning of a word and the myriad ways it can be understood. These explorations reflect on the way language operates both within and beyond the individual, connecting thought, expression, and social interaction in ways that are continuously evolving.

By using visual and auditory elements, I aim to reveal the complex, often invisible processes by which words and texts gain and lose meaning. Just as in the philosophical tradition, I invite the viewer to reflect on the ways in which language both shapes and is shaped by human experience, encouraging a deeper engagement with the ever-present feedback loop of communication, understanding, and transformation.

© Tomasz Madajczak