Compréhension/Comprendre is a piece by Annie Abrahams (1997/1998) that explores the ideas of identity, perception and the fluidity of these two concepts. The piece begins with a pink screen and two pieces of text. In one corner, the reader sees the statement, “Vous ne me comprendrez jamais.” (You will never understand me) And in another corner there is a question, “Pourquoi pas?” ( Why not?) On this first page (and also on other pages throughout) the author gives the reader a choice. By clicking on the hyperlinks, the reader has the impression that he or she is talking with a person. The program becomes a sort of artificial being. Here, one has the choice to accept the declaration, or to argue it.
If one clicks on “Vous ne me comprendrez jamais,” he or she is lead to a transitory page with even more text. This page includes a mix of spatial and temporal reading. Here, a sentence reads, “Il est impossible de me comprendre.” (It is impossible to understand me,) but parts of the text move and the word order is abnormal (when one reads from left to right). There is a link between the visual and the thematic on this particular page. One cannot view all of the words simultaneously as a complete sentence. This esthetic could represent the impossibility of seeing or knowing all the complexities of another person (as is suggested in the phrase “Vous ne me comprendrez jamais.”) The movement of the text could also represent the fluidity of identity that changes with every life experience of an individual.
In the corner of said page, the author added another link that the reader can choose to follow. This link reads “Je ne comprends pas.” (I don’t understand.) The bits of text like this one transcribe the possible thoughts of the reader as he or she interacts with the piece. If one clicks on this link, he or she is lead to a new transitory page. In the corner of this page, the screen reads, “Vous ne serez jamais moi.” (You will never be me.) In the center, there is a circle made of small dots that flash as they change color. This image evokes the theme of optics and the eye. Others can never see what you see through your own eyes, just as they cannot fully understand you.
If the reader clicks on the flashing circle, he or she sees a new page with a quarter of the same image and yet more text in the corner. Here the text reads:
“Stop, ne touchez pas, dites-moi comment vous éviter partez…………….restez, ne me quittez pas j’ai besoin de vous pour affaiblir mes frontières.”
(Stop, don’t touch, tell me how to avoid you leave……………stay, don’t leave me I need you to weaken my boundaries.)
In an interview speaking about this piece, artist Annie Abrahams said “Il t’est impossible de me comprendre parce que tu ne seras jamais moi! La seule issue dans tout ça, s’il y en a une, c’est l’attention qu’il faut donner à l’autre pour advancer ou pour repousser les frontiers… et, ainsi, peut-être élargir les siennes!” (It is impossible for you to understand me because you will never be me! The only issue in all that, if there is one, is the attention that we need to give to the other to advance or to drive back the boundaries…and, in doing so, maybe widen theirs!) Here, she addresses the possibility of being able to better understand others, if we communicate and negociate the “boundaries” (physical, verbal, cultural, etc.) that separate us. If the reader then clicks on the word “touchez” the next page gives a short poem that talks about “being open.” Also, there is a new window that appears. It says “svp souriez aux voisins le matin.” (Please, smile at the neighbors in the morning.) One could read these words as a didactic message from the author. These are ways or strategies that could help to “weaken the boundaries” between ourselves and others. In doing this, one can approach the “impossible task” of understanding another person.
