The Persistence of Type
Back to Projects.20 June- 9 August 2015
The Persistence of Type is an exhibition of newly commissioned work by artist Fiona Jardine and graphic designers Sophie Dyer and Maeve Redmond that explores exchanges between graphic design, visual art, fiction and historical advertising.
Alluding to the strategic individualisation of female types and the pseudo-personalisation of fonts or typefaces, The Persistence of Type conflates ‘type’ as lettering with ‘type’ as standard in relation to female roles as described through advertising.
Working with images derived from the archives of the Forth Studios graphic design agency, held by Richard Demarco, Post Office records, collected magazines and micro film of local newspapers, the exhibition plays with a set of motifs that evolved in the context of brand promotion in Scotland during the 1960s and 70s. At this time, British Caledonian Airlines – a glamorous destination/employer for young ladies - promised that the Caledonian Girls staffing Gatwick were “the cutest girls in the world”, and the era-defining, much-loved Lager Lovelies radiated soft-focus charm from the back of Tennent’s cans.
The resulting works combine screen-printed posters and digital presentation with photographic imagery, type, borrowed archive material and hand-drawn annotations and nod to graphic design processes of the past, through a physical layering of composition, texture, type and image.
A programme of events accompanies the exhibition:
Friday 19 June, 7.30pm – 8pm
Anna McLaughlan
Performance
Sunday 21 June, 2pm – 3:30pm
Catch Phrases Catch Images
Discussion and Screening with Sophie Dyer, Maeve Redmond and Neil McGuire
Sunday 26 July, 2pm – 3:30pm
Soft Focus
Talk (In association with Fashion Cultures 2015)
25 Albert Drive
Glasgow
G41 2PE
Open Tue–Fri, 12-5pm, Sat & Sun 12-6pm
Admission Free
The Persistence of Type is commissioned and produced by Panel in partnership with Tramway with generous support from Creative Scotland and Glasgow Life.
