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SETI. 2004. Hand embroidery on linen. 40 x 57 in. (101.6 x 144.8 cm)
 

CONCEPTION OF AN INTERSTELLAR MESSAGE IS NOT A TRIVIAL TASK . . . WE TRIED TO SEND AN ENCYCLOPEDIA. THEREFORE THE MESSAGE CONTAINS BASIC NOTIONS OF MATHEMATICS, PHYSICS, CHEMISTRY, BIOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY. MORE IMPORTANT, IT FORMALLY ASKS FOR A REPLY.
  —Y. Dutil and S. Dumas, authors of twenty-three-page message in Lincos (Lingua Cosmica) language
system transmitted into outer space in 1999

NO MESSAGE COULD EVER BE FREE OF AMBIGUITY. AS A RESULT, WE HAVE NO BASIS FOR THE BELIEF THAT ANY PART OF THE MESSAGE WILL BE INTELLIGIBLE.
  —Dr. D. Vakoch, Interstellar Message Group Leader, SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) Institute, 2002