The Answer is 42

32″ x 48″ | 2002 | Acrylic | NFS

A quilt of abstract tiles made up of shapes and colors that interconnect, forming a symbiotic design. Each tile represents its own environment, its own split second of recorded memory or idea, seemingly isolated from the others surrounding it, yet unaware that their existence is wholly dependent on the other surrounding, unseen tiles. 

Memories, ideas, and thoughts, when recalled are recreated from isolated associations.  Whether it’s a single word, a smell or visual, this single slice is interwoven with others to construct the thoughts we deem as reality. Philosophers take the same approach when trying to interpret the world; single, interwoven snapshots, weaving together isolated concepts to form a quilted theory. Each tile acts as its own dimension. Within that dimension, one can detect the other dimensions and realize their dimension has a direct effect on yours.

The Answer is 42 is the answer to everything, given by a supercomputer Deep Thought after seven and a half million years of processing in the book Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. This is may be a more an accurate answer and less a punchline from a book than we realize. In the philosopher’s search for deeper meaning and understanding the unanswerable questions of reality, when weaving together the tapestry of memories, thoughts and experiences, the answer received may be that which would be given by if asked of a Zen monk, something simple and unexpected.

“42” was also a response given by someone I once knew when asked “I have a question for you”, which was the primary inspiration for the title.