before Say
in this situation
because I think that idea
questions the meaning
it doesn’t need to like
to be an example right
and so when
with everything that’s
totally differently aimed
It would probably just string
I’m not sure if that was sort of
the way that we
to find the shape for this
let’s try to think about
just the process of
the stuff based on that
so it would be
It would probably just string
Sort of sit in reverse
in a lot of ways
it’s a little out there but
I think it needs to be a little bit
like you’re doing everything
except because it’s still
It will grow on what it has
in order to almost like exist
it would just do that
over and over and
even if it was like
almost like if it was
Energy sucked in
Existence in the sense of salient
like at the end of it all like
it has nothing
no yes no or
that’s what you want to show
it’s the same thing
Existence in the sense of salient
Energy transformed and released
it’s not one or the other
we don’t know if we like
would have some rule
so like the whole thing would be
a completely different thing
It could only exist somewhere that hears
Both within and outside
so it does have more
and it would and it would
no well actually I’m not sure
it makes a lot more sense
when you see it that way
Both within and outside
Like the need for an external compelling
in this situation
because I think that idea
questions the meaning
it doesn’t need to like
to be an example right
It’s still a plant you have to create
and so when
with everything that’s
totally differently aimed
I’m not sure if that was sort of
the way that we
Without actually knowing
Because it exists within that island
to find the shape for this
let’s try to think about
just the process of
the stuff based on that
It’s the same thing that we can’t
Possibly completely reach
that standard of pattern
the natural approach
of reaching a point
shouldn’t say natural
not an unsolvable question
For the sheer sake of comparing
but an occurrence
that standard of pattern
like it could only exist
the natural approach
of reaching a point
Approaching a threshold
You could never reach
you could do it in a different way
shouldn’t say natural
but specifically in regards to this
that standard of pattern
both of ours could only exist
not capable of that
the natural approach
Because it’s just an algorithm
you’re trying not to point
it’s just a different way of looking at it
that standard of pattern
correlated paths
incremental steps
could only exist because they were fucked
Because it’s just an algorithm
About to figure out what qualifies it
not an unsolvable question
but an occurrence
you’re trying not to point
to create an unknown pattern
correlated paths
incremental steps
So every life that is made by life
That imitates life is
fucked from the start by this limitation
you could do it in a different way
not an unsolvable question
but you’re pointing
like it could only exist by this limitation
I thought it would be nice
It’s not one or the other
correlated paths
incremental steps
but specifically in regards to this
that standard of pattern
like it could only exist
not capable of that
It looks like what it sees
pointing around it to illuminate it
so it would be
in a lot of ways
it’s a little out there but
I think it needs to be a little bit
Trying to do the exact opposite
Sort of turned inwards
like you’re doing everything
except because it’s still
it would just do that over and over and
in this situation
because I think that idea
Sort of turned inwards
Attempting to approximate
questions the meaning
it doesn’t need to like
to be an example right
and so when
A time yield that is far longer
Than a human would be alive
Almost like a place
Like a quality based on some other quality
with everything that’s
totally differently aimed
I’m not sure if that was sort of
the way that we
to find the shape for this
I think it needs to be a little bit disturbing
let’s try to think about
just the process of
the stuff based on that
so it would be
in a lot of ways
To be more elegant
It needs existence
it’s a little out there but
I think it needs to be a little bit
like you’re doing everything
except because it’s still
in order to almost like exist
Something that’s like truly aimless
But has an unsolvable question
it would just do that over and over and
even if it was like
almost like if it was
like at the end of it all like
it has nothing
That you previously designed to approach
Then tried to rearrange
no yes no or
that’s what you want to show
And hope that it sounds
it’s the same thing
it’s not one or the other
we don’t know if we like
would have some rule
so like the whole thing would be
It would be a pedestal with a microphone
And a speaker and no face
a completely different thing
Cause it’s gonna have a mood
so it does have more
It’s gonna have foggy days
And bright days on the island
and it would and it would
no well actually I’m not sure
To create organisms
Like the first time
it makes a lot more sense
when you see it that way
Like the whole thing
Because they were
in this situation
Because I’m not
Trying to simulate
Iris Colomb is a poet, artist, translator and curator based in London. She has been resident artist and poet at the Centre For Recent Drawing; she is now the art Editor of Haverthorn magazine, and a member of the interdisciplinary collective 'No Such Thing'. She has given individual, collaborative, and interactive performances at a range of events in both France and the UK. Her work has been exhibited at the National Poetry Library, and her co-translation (with Elliot Koubis) of The Stories and Adventures of the Baron d'Ormesan, a series of short stories by Guillaume Apollinaire, was published in 2017.
Her piece 'before Say' stems from a conversation between Adam Samson and Joao Gil. See a video of the piece and more on its context here.
