Don’t Always Explain Your Absurdity

Say something without saying it.

Sometimes we create an absurd image without giving it a very specific meaning.

And then something interesting happens.

Our audience starts creating meanings for us.

This is one of the things I love about blending.

When we fuse two completely different things together, we create something that doesn't exist in the real world.

And because it doesn't exist, there is no single, obvious meaning attached to it.

The viewer has to complete the image.

They use their own culture, experiences, memories and imagination to decide what they are looking at.

And that means two people can look at exactly the same absurd image and see completely different things.

Sometimes we don't even realize all the meanings our image can suggest.

We may think:

“It's just a weird idea.”

But someone else might see something very specific.

And that's the beauty of absurdity.

You don't always have to explain everything.

Sometimes the less you say, the more space you give the viewer to create the meaning themselves.

Today's tip:

Don't always explain your absurdity. Leave some room for the viewer to complete the story.

#inktober #inktober2026 #visualmetaphor #visualthinking #creativity