Chephemist derives from the word chef, meaning “head cook” and the greek word khemeia (χημεία) which loosely translates to “combining”.
A Chephemist is the head cook of the Labshop, and is the first who mastered the art word-melting to help people re-appropriate their labels. They can be considered the alchemists of words, for they use different disciplines to try and direct and arrange the potential of the unknown corners of language. Chephemists have a knowledge of sociolinguistics, philosophy, gender studies and cultural studies. They believe that language has power, and that labelling practices can support or disrupt societal power structures.
A Chephemist is the head cook of the Labshop, and is the first who mastered the art word-melting to help people re-appropriate their labels. They can be considered the alchemists of words, for they use different disciplines to try and direct and arrange the potential of the unknown corners of language. Chephemists have a knowledge of sociolinguistics, philosophy, gender studies and cultural studies. They believe that language has power, and that labelling practices can support or disrupt societal power structures.
By naming things you bring them into reality
Chephemists use cooking as a way to convey their practice and make it accessible to everyone who is interested in the power of language. The Labshop is their label laboratory workshop.
Chepamists's Core Practice
The art of word-alchemy is mainly based on two core ideas: language and identity. From them the Chephemists practice comes into being.
Language
Like our precursor de Saussure put it
Language is:
- a social shared code (LANGUE)
- particular activities of individuals utterance (PAROLE)
Langue is a collective, a common reference manual, an essential principle of language itself.
LANGUAGE IS UNSTABLE.
LANGUAGE IS DYNAMIC.
Language changes overtime but also at any time. It changes within communities and it is grounded in the various and varied categories of self and their intersections (race, gender, class, nationality, etc.).
Language carries power, and societal structures are embedded in the way words are chosen and used. It can be used both to conform, and to subvert and challenge the status quo.
Language is:
- a social shared code (LANGUE)
- particular activities of individuals utterance (PAROLE)
Langue is a collective, a common reference manual, an essential principle of language itself.
LANGUAGE IS UNSTABLE.
LANGUAGE IS DYNAMIC.
Language changes overtime but also at any time. It changes within communities and it is grounded in the various and varied categories of self and their intersections (race, gender, class, nationality, etc.).
Language carries power, and societal structures are embedded in the way words are chosen and used. It can be used both to conform, and to subvert and challenge the status quo.
Identity
Identity is fluid and, just like language does, it changes over time. Identity can be seen as the intersection of personal meanings and societal impositions; therefore, identity is placed in time and space. New social arrangements provide a space to reshape the self, as well as a shift in ideologies.