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This article was published on May 16, 2012

This artist made a city out of movable type


This artist made a city out of movable type

Type City, a “metropolis created from moveable type” as NOTCOT calls it, was built by NY-based artist Hong Seon Jang. As you can see in the images below, the feat shows a true love for art, architecture and typography, with quite spectacular results.

Modern moveable type consists of independent characters and ligatures, which from there are assembled into words and then lines of text with a composing stick. Then, everything is bound together into a page image known as a forme.

Yes, computers are wonderful and make this entire process wildly easier — but there is something special about the results that come from a proper letterpress.

The work:

Type City, 2012
Letter press on wood panel
2 x 11 x 14 in. (5.1 x 27.9 x 35.6 cm)
Courtesy: Hong Seon Jang and David B. Smith Gallery

For more on Hong Seon Jang, check out his statement and bio.

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