Steve Legget
Bathhouse

Rediscovering something unfathomable in the most familiar of places.

Right from the start, this work (first and only) by Steven Legget, presents itself as a small encyclopedia finely illustrated and written in an incomprehensible language. So incomprehensible that it seems devoid of meaning, yet simultaneously innocently familiar.

Flipping through this simple and arcane encyclopedia, a doubt arises spontaneously: if this artifact, contrary to common sense, were considered to have arisen on its own, wouldn’t it be easier to understand the instinctive familiarity of its features?

Its attempt to imitate nature — or rather: the double attempt to imitate nature, which is an attempt to blend into it — as suggested by the illustrations, requires a lot of time. If I could, by means of a dictionary capable of deciphering the indecipherable, describe precisely its mimetic process, I would certainly do so. But, since it is not possible, one must rely on the descriptive character of the images that adorn it.

This is what I have managed to extract:

First of all, plant in clay soil, diligently and in the right season, an inexpensive cello, burying it so that only a quarter of its length remains exposed to the elements.

Secondly, water it with brackish water, in which you have let infuse, for an indefinite time, the moments of someone's tedium and delight (not necessarily yours). If you do this consistently, everything will appear more subdued.

Thirdly, patiently wait for the seasons to render that object unrecognizable, so much so that you will completely forget its original function. This will give the instrument a more expanded timbre.

Fourthly, record, in the following months, as many environmental samples as you can, paying close attention to the sound produced by the pouring rain and the strong wind when they contact the instrument.

Finally, wait for everything to settle.