A while ago we received an email out of the blue asking if we’d like to be involved with an upcoming typography exhibition. Imaginary Menagerie is being held at Text/Gallery in Holborn and features work from a number of designers exploring ‘language’s difficult, tongue-tripping, unpronounceable labyrinths typographically and in their own language’. Using typography to visually communicate a difficult to say phrase or sentence sounded like an interesting brief, so we promptly agreed. Well up for it.
Before too long, deadlines started looming and we needed to come up with some ideas. Eeeek! The work of Stanley Kubrick is a pretty regular topic of conversation around these parts and a typically ridiculous chat in the studio resulted in our chosen phrase – Carefully Caressing Kubrick’s Clockwork Cock. Don’t ask. The Korova Milk Bar–inspired artwork was designed, screen-printed and hand delivered to the gallery just in the nick of time for framing.
Find out more about the work here.
Last night was the private view of the exhibition and the first chance for us to see our work alongside that of the other contributing designers. The line up features an impressive array of talent including Barnbrook Design, Morag Myerscough, Company, Cartlidge Levene and our good mate Ryan Dixon. And that’s just the UK contigent. Designers from China, Russia, Germany, Portugal and Austria also contributed pieces.
The venue was packed and all of the work on display was of an extremely high standard. There were screenprints, letterpress, 3D installations, a nice bit of neon and a guest appearance from Sean Connery, sort of. Well, not really…
As with any exhibition opening, the free booze got everyone schmoozing and a good night was had by all. See below for a selection of the work.
—
–
–
–
–
–
If you’re in London, make sure you stop by the gallery and check some brilliant work from some brilliant designers.
Imaginary Menagerie will be open to the public from 20th October – 19th November at the excellent Text/Gallery, as part of the Bloomsbury Festival.
Big thanks must go to Rebecca at Text/Gallery for asking us to be involved and Dan Mather for the screenprinting.
And, as ever, thanks to you for reading.
Mat
