Buffalo

 

Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.

This is a grammatically correct sentence, constructed using variations of meaning indicated by the word 'buffalo'. Here buffalo is used as a noun, place name, and verb (meaning: to bully). The sentence is extended by always including the description of these 'buffalo' as 'Buffalo buffalo' (bison from Buffalo, New York). It then goes on to describe a repetitive chain of bullying behaviour within the buffalo community.

There is very likely not any real wild buffalo in Buffalo NY, but the relationship described between the buffalo and their buffalo folk is vague and seems possibly true. There may be research into this behaviour being carried out in other places within the US which have real buffalo.

The repetition in this sentence is also an example of a technique used by people in their leisure time… a word is repeated aloud until it sounds strange and becomes difficult to shape in the mouth. Very quickly mistakes are made, and the people involved will laugh at each other and describe how new and alien the word had become and how little it meant to them.

Artworks: Lamp, Plant, Cover, Bowl, Table, Figurine 1, and Figurine 2,
Materials*: Plaster, Fibre Glass, Wire, Wood, Paper, Glue, Acrylic Paints and Varnish.

*Each artwork uses each of the materials above, for specification of measurements, email Hannah.fitz [at] live.ie

Blurb by Hannah Fitz. Photographs taken by James Brady.