---

ALT text included for accessibility.

This collage was created as part of a visual remix project for my Digital & Multimedia Writing class, using found imagery to construct a symbolic message. The final composition reads “Eye love pasta, wine, & chocolate,” but getting there wasn’t easy, especially when trying to form a coherent sentence without access to images that substitute for conjunctions. Remixing with visuals means working with what’s available, and sometimes that limitation sparks unexpected creativity. If you’re working on something expressive, maybe symbolic elements like an eye, a heart, or even an ampersand could help you build your own visual message.

Here’s what I came up with:

🧿 Eye – Represents the pronoun “I,” using Dan Foy‘s multicolored eye photograph to evoke gaze, identity, and presence. Photo via Flickr, licensed under CC BY 2.0.

❤️ Band of Hearts – Stands in for the word “love,” using Michell Zappa’s heart symbolizing emotion, affection, and desire. Licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0

🍝 Pasta – Represents comfort and indulgence, a staple of personal pleasure. Photo by Erik Stattin via Flickr, licensed under CC BY 2.0.

🍷 Wine – Suggests relaxation and ritual, adding depth to the emotional tone. Photo by Wojtek Szkutnik via Flickr, licensed under CC BY 2.0.

&️ Ampersand – Replaces the word “and,” visually linking the final elements of the message. Photo by takomabibelot via Flickr, licensed under CC BY 2.0.

🍫 Chocolate – Evokes sweetness and craving, rounding out the trio of indulgences. Photo by LongitudeLatitude via Flickr, licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Visual language is everywhere. What symbolic sentence would you construct from the images around you?