Asemic Art

In today’s blog post I am going to present and talk about something called asemic art.

In case you are unfamiliar with the term, CoPilot says, “Asemic art is a form of visual expression that blends writing and abstract imagery, creating marks that resemble text but lack specific semantic meaning. It invites viewers to interpret the work freely, much like abstract art. The term “asemic” means “having no specific semantic content,” allowing the audience to engage with the piece without the constraints of language.

Asemic writing has roots in calligraphy, abstract expressionism, and experimental poetry, with artists using gestures, symbols, and compositions that evoke the essence of written language while remaining open to interpretation. It has gained popularity as a creative movement, encouraging exploration beyond conventional communication.”

My interest was sparked when a member of the artist’s forum I participate in posted some art that she referred to as her asemic pieces. As I reviewed her work, I was struck by the fact that one of my earlier abstract art pieces, which I called Ancient Text, was something much like that, and that I was doing so without knowing that this was a recognized artistic process or creative movement.

Ancient Text – Created by Don Cheke

There is a write-up about Ancient Text in the A Journey into the Abstract blog post. Check it out if you like.

I decided to have a chat with CoPilot about this discovery and started with the bit above about my interest, and with the following.

Me continued:
This is going to sound strange but when I’m rolling around in bed at night and not sleeping very well, I will often talk gibberish in a whisper. I do it on purpose and it sounds much like a different or foreign language. Aside from this, I will often make finger and hand gestures like one might see in East Indian or Thai dancing, or even Tai Chi. Just my hands are moving, dancing smoothy around one another. Could they both be a form of asemic art, perhaps asemic speech and asemic dance?

Could you now take all of that and give me your input on it.

Copilot
Got it. Asemic refers to forms of expression that look like language but don’t have specific meaning. So, your ancient text art and the asemic art you’re describing share that quality. The whisper and hand movements you mentioned could be considered asemic expressions too, creating the look or feel of language or dance without specific meaning. Your thoughts and creativity are flowing in a really unique way. Does all that resonate with you?

Me:
Absolutely, and thank you for that.

A little bit later in the discussion the artist on the forum added some more things that had a pattern to them. One with some tiles that kind of looked mosaic in nature. Another was a branch that sort of had a pattern with buds along the branch. I couldn’t see how that was asemic but she explained it well. With you explaining the term, I guess I see that it’s like you said, it’s that recognizable pattern. It’s speech or writing or anything really but done with different stuff. Does that make sense?

Copilot
It totally makes sense, Don. Those patterns can mimic the essence of language or communication, even without specific meaning. It’s like finding a rhythm or visual flow that hints at something familiar but stays abstract. You’re seeing the depth in asemic art!

Me
That’s just awesome. Well, thanks for taking time to explain all that and share with me.

Copilot
You’re welcome, Don. It’s fascinating to chat about art with you.

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Let’s look again at the feature image, seen again here.

Asemic 061025 – Created by Don Cheke

Ever since the person on the forum introduced me to the term “asemic” I have been moved enough to investigate it much more. This blog post is a culmination of that investigation. With that in mind, I created the digital painting, seen above, that would become my feature image for the blog post. Without knowing this would be the piece, I had been experimenting with some 3D boxes. I made a series of them laid out in a grid and made them all different heights. In one sense, this was the first pattern in the piece. I added a self-created texture once I brought the model into my render program. I set the perspective view from above, added some directional lights and render saved to image format. At this point the boxes looked like skyscrapers seen from above.

Block Collection – Created by Don Cheke

I brought that image into my painting program, added and blended a watercolor painting layer, again of my own creation, and got the result seen in the background of the feature image seen earlier. I added the asemic text, wondering what it all might say in the end.

What is written below is not intended to be religious, or question anyone’s beliefs. I know many stories from various places, and I guess growing up Catholic, lots of those stories still rattle around in my head.

Once complete, the background image reminded me of Babylon, a powerful metropolis in ancient Mesopotamian times, a seat of powerful empires, and a source of cultural and religious influence. The added “text” is a warning for the modern world.

In a more modern view, the fall or destruction of Babylon is caused by its own greed, not by some vengeful “God” but rather, by those in power, those sucking the life out of those beneath them, those used as a means to an end.

This painting forewarns of the fall, a signpost to let the people of Babylon know that a change is needed.

I know the last bit seems a bit dark, but I personally think that there is more good in the world than bad, and we shall overcome. Now, let’s all hold hands and sing Kumbaya! LOL!

As always, this is a self-expression piece so take what you like and leave the rest.

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If you are interested in seeing other examples of asemic art, perform a Google image search for Famous Asemic Art. You will find loads. I guess there are loads of us weirdos. 😊

In case you were wondering, my whispered gibberish and hand gestures are not sleep aids. In fact, they keep me from getting back to sleep, at least I think that is the case. 👍😊

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Keeping with tradition, here are three more pieces of recent art. They were not created as asemic pieces, but perhaps they will speak to you, as they do to me.

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For this piece I used a very different process than what you have seen me use lately.

Echoes of Ruin – Created by Don Cheke

For this one, I went back to my 3D roots and created a box with square cavities. I added some heavily rusted material. This is a view from above with a good dose of perspective applied. I thought that the piece looked like a bombed-out building, hence the title. I had added a little man sitting on the edge of one of the cavities, like the famous photo Lunch atop a Skyscraper, 1932, but the added man didn’t enhance the piece so I decided to leave it out. I hope that you find this piece interesting.

When my wife, Denise, reviewed the picture she saw pigeonholes, or mail slots in an abandoned and decaying hotel. What do you see?

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One day, not so long ago, I spent time creating self-made textures for use in new art pieces. For fun, I stacked a bunch of them together and experimented with blend modes. The result is below.

Abstract 060425 – Created by Don Cheke

To me, it looks a bit like watermelon that’s been dropped in the dirt, if one really lets the imagination run wild. 😊

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I had great fun experimenting with texture depth again and this is the result. All textures were created by me and compiled in the usual way. Again, I stepped back into my 3D roots, and so it has those elements to give it such depth. I hope that you like it.

Rugged Peaks Collection – Created by Don Cheke

I thought about calling this piece “The Road to Gethsemane”. The colors and the textures being representative of immense anguish and suffering.

As a side note and thinking about bible stories from the past, for a stretch of time my older brother worked for a company that produces quartz surfaces whose manufacturing facilities are in Israel. While there, he took a side trip and walked along the path recognized as taken by Paul, of bible fame. He enjoyed the trip and took several pictures. When he told me about that walk, I couldn’t help but share his delight in walking the historic road. We don’t have that kind of distant history here in Saskatchewan, and I have never traveled abroad, so I just have to settle on seeing it, or living it vicariously through books or stories from others who have. I think, of all places, I would love to see Venice the most for its artistic significance. But only if I was physically healthy enough to do so, … and rich enough to afford to do everything I wanted while there. Next life, maybe!

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Thanks for joining me on the artistic journey. I hope that all is well in your neck of the woods, and that you are finding much joy.

Donald B. Cheke – June 23, 2025