Mez Breeze is a writer, game developer, and internet artist who got her start in the early 90s. She developed and continues to write in a self-developed code known as mezangelle, which runs off of ASCII codes. It combines coding syntax with real human language, and makes it so that every one of her works can be read differently (i.e. mezangelle is sometimes written as m[ez].ang.elle). Mez has also implemented mezangelle into popular games such as World of Warcraft, and is a part of a team known as The Third Faction, whose aim is to bring players together rather than separate them. Mez continues to make art, now using mezangelle and 3D models to create works. They are often seen as very chaotic and are often left up to self interpretation for meaning. Mez’s works have earned her multiple awards and have been featured in multiple exhibitions.

Mez’s works are often confusing, and a bit chaotic and even scary at times, as her 3D modeled works have sound attached that can be a bit off-putting. But that’s how I feel makes her works art. Not only by the sight of her later works, as they also use 3D models, but also by the sheer multiple interpretations each piece can have. Each piece tells its own story, and Mez leaves the meaning up to the individual. Her mezangelle language helps with this, as the words often have letters in the middle that form other words and lets the viewer pick it’s interpretation. Her chaotic nature has led her to use the classic DND nature “Chaotic Good”.

Mez Breeze often used the web as a medium, her early works using real emails she had on a forum in the 90s. Those chat responses are what initially gave her the idea for the mezangelle language, as the language uses chat language in addition to real human language to work. And as stated before, the way the mezangelle language works leads to multiple interpretations being possible. Each piece holds this aesthetic, her modern works combining mezangelle and highly detailed, often trippy 3D models. All viewable in a browser for free on her website. Her works are even viewable in VR using your phone, which I believe to be the true viewing experience for her modern pieces. Heck, she’s even used World of Warcraft for demonstrations via the group she’s a part of, The Third Faction.

Mez’s works often don’t openly show the message it’s trying to explain. In fact, it’s messages are rarely ever brought forward. Once again referring to the multiple interpretations, I believe that’s what Mez wants to show in her pieces. To show that even if the image is confusing that there is always some interpretation to be had in each piece. It can even start conversation in a group setting. The odd visuals and even weirder writing I think helps to spark the conversation even more, as one person’s view on it can be wholly different from someone else’s. Something that I believe is what defines art entirely.

Sources: http://thirdfaction.org/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mez_Breeze#cite_note-Third-Faction-14

https://web.archive.org/web/20120206001145/http://www.framejournal.net/interview/11/mez

http://mezbreezedesign.com/

https://rhizome.org/editorial/2016/dec/15/mezangelle-an-online-language-for-codework-and-poetry/