Oran Hoffmann"Point"The David Lopatie International Conference Center
Can a line be composed of points? Geometrically, a point is a precise position in space that has no dimensions of its own — an inherent paradox that has long sparked debate. The ancient Greeks, adhering to the definition of a point as zero-dimensional, argued that the answer to the question posed above is no: A line, possessing a single dimension, could not be composed of dimensionless points.
Between Mathematics and Physics
Centuries later, Galileo Galilei and Isaac Newton regarded this paradox as an inherent feature of nature — one that must simply be accepted. They treated the conceptual point as a tangible entity, effectively blurring the boundary between mathematics and physics. From this perspective, a line could indeed be formed from a sequence of points. The debate continued in the work of David Hilbert, who proposed solutions that diverged even further from the classical definition of the point. The tension between the definition — a pure mathematical abstraction — and its practical application, as noted by René Descartes, reflects the broader challenge of reconciling descriptions of reality with reality itself. In recent decades, this widening gap has become increasingly evident across disciplines, from science to art.
Full Stop
The point also doubles as a period — the punctuation mark that has become the subject of a largely inter-generational debate. Like geometry, punctuation marks originated in ancient Greece, although the system we use today developed only after the invention of printing press in 1454.
Simply put, a period marks the end of a sentence, signaling a pause in the flow of reading, offering the reader to “take a moment,” and briefly rest before continuing on the journey through the text. Nana Ariel’s children’s book The Strange and Unbelievable Story of Comma and Period (Asia Publishers) features the comma “who likes to take a breath and continue” and the period “who likes to stop and rest.”
At the end of a sentence, a period signifies that the matter is closed and beyond debate. It says, “That’s a wrap.” Persons speaking at length may be told to “Put a period on it” that is, understood, enough said.
A Point of Contention
In recent years, and particularly on social media, it seems that a near-consensus has been reached: The period is no longer deemed necessary at the end of a sentence.
The reasoning behind this view is that a period “interrupts” (sometimes even “hostilely and aggressively”) the flow of communication in a discourse. This perspective largely stems from the idea that we should “write as we speak.” Moreover, a study based on interviews with social media users found that text messages ending with a period are often perceived as less sincere, whereas messages ending with question marks or exclamation marks are viewed as more authentic.
Oran Hoffmann is an Israeli artist who lives, works, and exhibits both in Israel and internationally. He defines himself as a photographer who primarily works in sculpture. Hoffmann grew up in the Netherlands and holds a Master of Arts degree, summa cum laude, from Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design. He has received both the Young Artist Award and the Creativity Encouragement Award from the Ministry of Culture. His first exhibition, curated by Dalit Matityahu, was held at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, where his works were displayed alongside prints by Josef Albers, a founding figure of the Bauhaus movement in Germany and a pioneer of abstract art.
This exhibition showcases selected works from various series in Hoffmann’s body of work, in which he situates the point—both conceptually and physically—in varied contexts. Through photography, Hoffmann explores the boundaries between photography and sculpture, and between the lens and the point. He delves into the question of the essence and role of the point in the world at large, and its significance in our lives in particular.
