Last year I got a chance to participate in a Sonnets 2016 project organized by Alexandra Franklin, coordinator of the Bodleian's Centre for the Study of the Book in Oxford, commemorating the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare's death.
At the beginning of 2016, the Bodleian invited printers around the world to submit hand-printed copies of each of Shakespeare's 154 sonnets - a cycle of 154 short, 14-line poems first published in 1609, where William Shakespeare meditated on themes of love, death, and desire. Each printer had to choose sonnet and all 154 hand-printed works, in various languages, were added to the permanent collection and I'm proud to be amongst them.
Quick links
1. On the Lower East Side of Manhattan, single volumes are trimmed and glued by hand as they have been in this tiny workshop for the last 50 years - link
2. DADA ist 100 exhibition is currently on display at the Museum der Arbeit in Hamburg
3. Librarium is an archive of hundreds illustrated publications Russian emigration did between World Wars I and II curated by Fiodor Soumkine
4. Vernissage druk druk druk grafiek expo in Wide screen gallery in Gent, 31.03-31.05.17
Ian Gabb. MIAT. Monotype.
Almost every printing & typecasting equipment at the printing department of the MIAT museum is frequently used: Heidelberg, Ludlow, Linotype, FAG and other proof presses, but the Monotype is one of a few we seldom see in action. But when a few weeks ago Patrick brought Ian Gabb, a British designer/printer to the MIAT to inspect the Monotype Super Caster we were sure they will make it work again.
Read More
Type Journal in Belgium
It is been a while that I've been in contact with editors of Type Journal (Журнал «Шрифт»), an online journal devoted to type design, visual culture and typography in the Russian-speaking world. So at the beginning of the year, while being on holidays with friends in Berlin they've decided to visit Belgium for a few days. A perfect moment for a typographic meeting!
Read More
Yerevan. Museum of Literature and Art.
This year I took another week off to visit my family in Yerevan. Yesterday when strolling around the city I've discovered the Museum of Literature and Art after Yeghishe Charents. This tiny museum, situated behind the National Gallery, includes archives of almost all classics of Armenian literature, theater, music and cinematographic art from the 18th century up till now. In fact it is the continuation of Mashtots Matenadaran (repository of ancient manuscripts).
Read More
Cyrillic wood type
Holiday card from Russia
The New Year is coming soon, which means it's time to print holiday cards. Many websites & blogs already posted holiday cards roundup's, but this one comes from Russia. Designed by Ivan Gulkov using national colors and patterns the cards were printed by "Cliché" letterpress studio from Penza (Russian Federation).
Read More