Research in Child Language 1973

Robert Filliou made this "Research in Child Language" out of cardboard, string, and found objects. It’s so simple, right? Like a kid’s diorama, yet it opens up a whole universe. The open cardboard boxes become a stage. One side is mostly empty except for this enigmatic arrow. The other is crammed with little oddities: a childish drawing, a small paper kite, and a tiny box with a dark, mysterious interior. There’s a real poignancy in the handmade-ness of it all, the textures of the cardboard and the roughness of the string. I think the kite gets me the most. The way the edges are frayed, as if it was actually used. It evokes a childhood that’s both fragile and resilient. It’s like Filliou is saying that art is a language we learn as children, a way of seeing the world that’s fresh, intuitive, and maybe a little bit absurd. I am reminded of Kurt Schwitters, who also found art materials in the street. They are both reminding us of the ongoing conversation that is art.