Semantic Satiation

Semantic Satiation is the psychological phenomenon in which repetition causes a word or phrase to temporarily lose meaning for the listener, who then perceives the speech as repeated meaningless sounds. The process of using semantic satiation in visual art involves reconfiguring written language into drawings and challenging the tenacity of semantic meaning.

Semantic Satiation at Passage Gallery, CASA, Lethbridge, AB. Photo courtesy of Donna Bilyk, 2017.

Semantic Satiation at Passage Gallery, CASA, Lethbridge, AB. Photo courtesy of Donna Bilyk, 2017.

Semantic Satiation at Passage Gallery, CASA, Lethbridge, AB. Photo courtesy of Donna Bilyk, 2017.

Semantic Satiation at Passage Gallery, CASA, Lethbridge, AB. Photo courtesy of Donna Bilyk, 2017.

Freyja Catton, it all will fall right into place (graph) , 2010. Pencil on graph paper, 8.5” x 11”.

Freyja Catton, it all will fall right into place (graph), 2010. Pencil on graph paper, 8.5” x 11”.

Freyja Catton, it all will fall right into place (manic) , 2010. Ink on paper, 8.5” x 11”.

Freyja Catton, it all will fall right into place (manic), 2010. Ink on paper, 8.5” x 11”.

Freyja Catton, this is a gift , 2010. Typewriter on paper. 11” x 17”.

Freyja Catton, this is a gift, 2010. Typewriter on paper. 11” x 17”.

Freyja Catton, Don't Stop Me Now , 2010. Photocopier, ink, paper. 8.5” x 11”.

Freyja Catton, Don't Stop Me Now, 2010. Photocopier, ink, paper. 8.5” x 11”.

Freyja Catton, Blind Mary , 2010. Photocopier, ink, paper. 8.5 “ x 11”.

Freyja Catton, Blind Mary, 2010. Photocopier, ink, paper. 8.5 “ x 11”.

Freyja Catton, Agnus Dei , 2010. Photocopier, ink, paper. 8.5” x 11”.

Freyja Catton, Agnus Dei, 2010. Photocopier, ink, paper. 8.5” x 11”.

Freyja Catton, I like to write things , 2013. Ink on paper, 5.5” x 8.5”.

Freyja Catton, I like to write things, 2013. Ink on paper, 5.5” x 8.5”.

Freyja Catton, CON*, 2015. Typewriter on cardstock. 4” x 6”.

Freyja Catton, CON*, 2015. Typewriter on cardstock. 4” x 6”.

Freyja Catton, Release the Kraken , 2014. Typewriter on paper. 8.5” x 11”.

Freyja Catton, Release the Kraken, 2014. Typewriter on paper. 8.5” x 11”.

Freyja Catton, copy copy copy copy copy copy , 2016. Stamp on paper, 5.5” x 8.5”.

Freyja Catton, copy copy copy copy copy copy, 2016. Stamp on paper, 5.5” x 8.5”.

Freyja Catton, Letter to Emma Hauk , 2014. Graphite on paper, 20” x 30”. SOLD

Freyja Catton, Letter to Emma Hauk, 2014. Graphite on paper, 20” x 30”. SOLD

Freyja Catton, copy greeting card , 2016. Stamp on cardstock. 4” x 6”.

Freyja Catton, copy greeting card, 2016. Stamp on cardstock. 4” x 6”.

Freyja Catton, Bathtub (or, Shut Up About Babies) , 2014. Digital print on bond paper. 24” x 36”.

Freyja Catton, Bathtub (or, Shut Up About Babies), 2014. Digital print on bond paper. 24” x 36”.

Freyja Catton, Falling , 2016. India ink on paper, 8.5” x 5.5”.

Freyja Catton, Falling, 2016. India ink on paper, 8.5” x 5.5”.

Freyja Catton, Seeking Perfection , 2016. Typewriter on cardstock tab, 9.5” x 11”.

Freyja Catton, Seeking Perfection, 2016. Typewriter on cardstock tab, 9.5” x 11”.

Freyja Catton, INTERRUPT , 2016. Ink on paper, 8.5” x 5.5”.

Freyja Catton, INTERRUPT, 2016. Ink on paper, 8.5” x 5.5”.

Freyja Catton, I forget, 2016. Ink on paper. 5.5” x 8.5”.

Freyja Catton, I forget, 2016. Ink on paper. 5.5” x 8.5”.