A world of handwriting

Can you imagine how a world without type based letters would be like? I've just started on this project, but the plan is to create an installation/exhibition where I a corner/part from a kitchen or living room. Evertything seems normal first, men when you get closer you realise that every element is covered in handwriting instead of type. For example the newspaper, the cereal, the bank cards + +.

This is just something I did very fast, the written text is not supposed to look that childish and bad...its just so you can get an impression:)

Lack - Photos

I have already mentioned my lack-project and this is the other project I'm doing about lack. I have taken different photos of written sentences, and they all have one thing in common; they're missing the most important word. By removing one word from a sentence, can make it impossible for the viewer to understand the entire meaning. Was it dancing, the girl wanted? Or die? Love? Sleep? Quit? Yeah, you get it. Here is some of the images:

LACK - Postcards

We had Sam Winston as a tutor i a project, and I ended up working with two different, but at the same time pretty similar projects. We had to choose a word and illustrate that without using the word. I got the word lack because lack is very relevant in my study proposal (lack of handwriting, quality of handwriting, lack of interest+++). The first lack-project consist (at the moment) of 10 postcards, each showing a world known piece of fine art. I have removed the main object in the image. You can see that something has been there, and in some of the images can you see what, but the main object who is the most relevant thing for the artpiece is missing. David told me that Led Zeppelin did something quite similare on one of their lp covers, take a look:

Led Zeppelin's Presence:

Some of my work:

I wanted to use reproductions in the original size and a similar frame so the artwork looked real, but that became too expensive.

Updated study proposal

I have already posted my study proposal, but it has changed a bit during the year. New knowledge and interest has made me change it a bit, so here is my new version:

Study Proposal

Handwriting and the digital revolution 

– The lack of handwriting 

Research question

Almost all of our visual communication is delivered using the products of the digitalized world: SMSes, emails, web pages, facebook, twitter; the list of possibilities is endless. The digitalization has made it easy to reach out to the mass world, and there are a lot of advantages. But new inventions make the old ones ‘out of date’; we use them less, which in this subject is our handwriting. Because of the new era, many people think that handwriting is about to become a lost art form. 

People’s handwriting, their ‘signature’, is a really interesting subject to me. Handwriting is unique, it can be used to prove people’s identity, and many believe that handwriting is an important part of whom we are. Others think that we have no use of handwriting anymore, and that it is a burden, rather than something useful.

Just by studying the generation above us, you can see a huge difference in people’s handwriting, and I want to explore the subject and see if there is important to make handwriting more popular again. Researchers think that the development is problematic, because it is so important to be able to communicate using our handwriting. 

In this assignment, I want to examine the subject of handwriting. How has the new technology affected the lack of handwriting? Can I, as a graphic designer, put focus on handwriting, and change people’s mind about what handwriting means to us? What makes the subject so important to some; while other believe that it is useless? Is handwriting really a part of our identity, a part of who we are? When should we use handwriting, and when is it best to use the computer?

Context

Some of the key individuals related to my study will be people who daily work with the subject or who has done research of handwriting, like scientists, calligraphers, teachers, designers as well as ordinary people who daily uses/or don’t use their handwriting.  Many artists have specialized using handwriting in their design, and I want to explore how they have succeeded. The key idea that is essential for my studies is the lack of the quality – and use – of handwriting.

Methodology

I want to read studies and researches about peoples writing habits. I know that there have been many studies on how handwriting is impacting children’s learning methods and creativity, so I want to read those to get a better understanding on how it impacts us. I also want to compare different handwritings from people and see how age is affecting the aesthetic ness of their handwriting. 

I want to put focus on handwriting, create debate, and to achieve this; I think that it would be a good idea to place postcards with prepaid postage addressed to me around in London, asking if people can write their name, age, and a sentence or word, using their handwriting.  I will then post the postcards on a website/blog. How is the difference between their ages/generation? How is the relation between how perfect handwriting they have according to their relation to what they think about handwriting? I also have an idea for a project I’m planning, called ‘A world of handwriting’ where I create a space/installation with everyday items and food. When you first see it, everything seems ordinary, but then, after taking a closer look; the viewer realizes that all the packages and things are made using handwriting. I want people to be aware of the massive change we have been through during the last century, and the goal with this installation is to make them think how the digitalization is affecting today’s society. 

Since this is a very subjective theme, I think it is important to talk to people, and maybe create a website where people can write their opinions, maybe upload their handwritings etc. By browsing the subject, I have found that this is a wide and very engaging theme among forum users and bloggers. I hope to create such an interest and discussion on the website/blog I am going to make.

Resources

I mainly want to use libraries and Internet to find related texts about the subject of handwriting, but it will also be useful to contact people who work with handwriting. An example of this might be calligrapher and book designer Christopher Haanes (Norway), who means that we are about to forget how to write by hand. It is also very relevant and inspiring to see what other artists have done using handwriting; Fiona Banner, Peter Arkles’ work is for example a great source for inspiration.

For the love of type - Gemma O'Brien

This blog is really inspiring, showing the use of type and handwritten text use in ways I never would've thought of. Gemma o brien is the person behind the blog, she wrote very nice lettering on every square inch of her body as part of the campaign to promote writing on designated graffiti spaces rather than someone elses property. The campaign was called 'Write her right now'.

I have found a poem for my images from Southend

When I showed the images I took at Southend, Sigune said that I could find some text that could go along with the images. My pictures looks a bit dramatically, most of them are dark, abstract and mysterious. So I found a very old poem called 'The Mystery' which is very old, and it's ascribed to a Milesian prince who settled in Ireland hundreds of years before Christ. At least that's what's been said.

The Mystery

 I am the wind which breathes upon the sea,
I am the wave of the ocean, 

I am the murmur of the billows,
I am the ox of the seven combats, 

I am the vulture upon the rocks,
I am the beam of the sun, 

I am the fairest of plants,
I am the wild boar in valour, 

I am a salmon in the water,
I am a lake in the plain, 

I am a word of science,
I am the point of the lance of battle, 

I am the God who created in the head the fire.
Who is it who throws light into the meeting on the mountain? 

Who announces the ages of the moon?
Who teaches the place where couches the sun? 

(If not I)

Old photoshoot in Camberwell/Peckham

I've been looking through some of my first projects here at Camberwell, and one of them was a small photo project.  I created a tiny photo book where I walked around in Camberwell and Peckham and took pictures of handwritten messages. I found a few 'treasures', and looking back at the pictures made me want to develop the project a bit further. There is so many cool handwritten messages out there, most of them unnoticed, we just walk by without even thinking about it.

Message in a phone box decorated with curtains.  'Make yourself at home'

Vandalism?

You don't need an expensive sign when you can write it yourself

Lots of handwritten price tags. I like the chickens!

It looks cool on the brick wall