The futurist Doug Stephens describes the difference between “instances” and “patterns”: the first elicits a feeling while the latter facilitates a response. Future thinking, or trend identification, is about knowing what is happening, or what is likely to happen, and understanding the direction of patterns less obvious to others.
Felix Gonzalez-Torres made an untitled series of fifty-five jigsaw puzzles in plastic bags between 1987 and 1992. The imagery was diverse and represented our everyday lives. Jigsaw puzzles are particularly popular during times of quiet. Knowing the desired end result and practicing patience to assemble the goal, piece by piece—looking for recognizable or familiar elements and putting it all together—provides an opportunity for determined, yet soft, focus.
Image:
"Untitled", 1987
C-print jigsaw puzzle in plastic bag
7 1/2 x 9 1/2 inches
Edition of 3, 1 AP
GF1987-010
