the more…, the less…

The work consists of the digits from one to nine and from nine to one, arranged in two separate lines, complemented by the digit “0” placed between the lines at the beginning and at the end. The author’s title, indicating the linguistic inspiration of a work constructed from numbers, suggests a theme related to the passage of time expressed through paradox (the more something increases, the more something else decreases). Dróżdż frequently referred to paradox – a figure favoured by ancient Greek philosophers as pointing towards a metaphysical meaning that is difficult to define. This work constitutes an earlier conceptual formulation of a theme later realised as increasing decrease, decreasing increase. It has been presented as a typescript on paper and as a board with text handwritten in ink on Bristol board.