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Outlining the ABC of letterforming





ANYONE interested in the history of letterforming will want to make a beeline for an exhibition which opens tomorrow (Saturday) in Wick’s St Fergus Gallery in Wick Library.

The Signs for Sounds exhibition focuses on the impact of letterform, an art that we are surrounded by every day, from traditional calligraphy to hi-tech font design.

From the scratch of the quill curling across the page to letters painstakingly chipped and carved from stone, the exhibition looks at the ways artists use the age-old shapes of letters to amplify the effect of words.

Included are artists’ films of graffiti and virtual typography where visitors can experiment with Jason Edward Lewis’ virtual typography to re-shape poetry on touchscreen monitors.

New works have been commissioned for this exhibition include one from Julien Breton whose pieces span traditional calligraphic techniques, phsotography and choreography.

Signs for Sounds will show you letters, writing and words in a new way – from Gary Breeze’s look at Roman abbreviations, spookily similar to the shortened txt spk of today, to the beauty of calligraphy drawn in light, or of it tattoed on skin – as in Ina Saltz’ piece.

Other artists include: Phil Baines and Catherine Dixon; Bunny Bread; Ewan Clayton; Tim Donaldson; Incisive Letterwork; Brody Neuenschwander; Tom Perkins; and Jeremy Tankard.

The exhibition runs until October 27.


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