The art of writing, from the basics of the alphabet to how we play with language itself, is a practice that has often been neglected in the age of technology. Classrooms are filled with open screens and digital tablets while pencils and paper are cast aside, and new forms of artificial intelligence can remove the human element from writing altogether. Despite this, artists continue to play with written language. Whether this takes the form of traditional calligraphy or decorative fonts, the act of manipulating text offers endless potential for artistic innovation. 

This exhibition was inspired by Forms of Incompletion, a captivating volume that reimagines the art of Cy Twombly. The American painter is best known for his large-scale works that appear reminiscent of calligraphy, graffiti, or mere scribbles. But even his most scrawled and illegible images reveal a deep appreciation for penmanship and the art of the mark. Forms of Incompletion combines calligraphy by Thomas Ingmire and poetry by Dean Rader in a collaborative response to Twombly’s untitled 1954 painting. Ingmire’s lettering replicates the free-form motion of Twombly’s brushwork, while Rader’s words acknowledge Twombly’s ethos on abstraction.  Drawing inspiration from this work, Playing With Words celebrates the significance of written language in relation to art and reminds us of the importance of the artistry of words.

Alphabet

Calligraphy & Writing

Word Play