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Sonder

Jack Kearney

He/him

In this project, I wanted to consider the feeling of overhearing conversations on the street. The title, 'Sonder' is a word coined by Jack Koenig to describe the realisation that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own. In this I wanted to portray that sensation and also show my own response to the notion of sonder.
This work was inspired by Sophie Calle’s work 'La Filature' or 'The Shadow' as a response to the city street and our relationship with the people we share it with. It also touches on the theory of ‘The Derive’ invented by Situationists International (SI) as a way to engage with spaces and surroundings in a cognitive, curious and playful way. I gathered overheard snippets of conversation and created a series of illustrations inspired by them. I then returned the conversations to streets from where they came by pasting up the transcripts around town.
I combine a hand drawn illustration style with a digital practice. I am interested in music and philosophy and I try to make these influences known through my work. I work mostly with a combination of pen, paper and digital media.

Sonder. Website homepage

Sonder. Website homepage

BTS of video piece

BTS of video piece

Sonder. Illustration from zine

Sonder. Illustration from zine

Sonder. Illustration from zine

Sonder. Illustration from zine

Sonder zine. Cover detail

Sonder zine. Cover detail

Sonder Video/ Performance Piece
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  • BA Illustration