Researcher Design / The Annex
01.09.07 – 28.02.09
The catalyst for my research at the Jan van Eyck is the work of New Zealand type designer Joseph Churchward. Churchward (b. 1933, Apia, Samoa) has produced a body of work that is worthy of further exploration and (re-) interpretation.
Since 2005 I have been in correspondence with Churchward. I have amassed a collection of his typefaces and design work, produced over a period (1960s to present day) that has seen large developments in the way we use and view letters. Many of his designs have fallen victim to the redundant machines they once relied on to be reproduced. Amongst this flotsam are things that could be lost forever; many examples have never been seen. In January 2007 I met Churchward for the first time in New Zealand; this meeting was documented on video. I aim to take stock of this collected material and analyse it further.
Although the material could be viewed as being biographical at the outset, through research I hope to translate it as an impetus for new work – to re-look at his designs and the possibilities in using them today. In doing so, one of my aims is to question biographical conventions; thus, I ask: ‘Is a typeface biographical?’. Another objective is to widen the scope of this material into a larger context of (New Zealand) graphic design – its histories and dialogue. I will also examine how the process of practicing design cannot only ‘give form’ to content, but how it can serve as a reflection on itself to present a position or a context.
MA Graphic Design and Typography. Werkplaats Typografie, Arnhem, NL.
BFA, major Photography. Elam School of Fine Arts, Auckland, NZ.
Teacher of Typography. ArtEz Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, Arnhem, NL.
Magazine series editor and production of Werkplaats magazine #1.18, #2.12, #3.17, #4.13. Werkplaats Typografie, Arnhem, NL.
Board member. Starving Artist Fund, Auckland, NZ.
Founder/Curator of the Breathing Space Poster Project. Auckland, NZ.
Research on research III. Design practice research. (7 December). With åbäke, Ksenija Berk, Sara De Bondt, Katja Gretzinger, Christoph Keller, Luna Maurer, Nina Støttrup Larsen & Daniël van der Velden. Maastricht, NL: Jan van Eyck Academie.
David James Bennewith & Tsui-Lun Liu (Eds). From outside inside to anyone being part of a family / A nation / Documentation / Lyric. Enschede, NL: Dutch Art Institute (DAI).
David James Bennewith, Maxine Kopsa & Rebecca Roke (Eds). Re-introducing Joseph Churchward. Arnhem, NL: Colophon Press.
A Kapital K for practice, ownership and ephemerality. Against symbols and exactitudes. Repeat. With David James Bennewith, Joseph Churchward & Sandra Kassenaar. In: \i Kapital K,\i0 p. 33 38. Eindhoven, NL: Onomatopee.
Churchward video notes K-Z. With Warren Olds. In: The national grid, 4, pp. 45-56.
What? Comes first. In: The book & other books. The best books of 2006 selected by the Werkplaats Typografie, pp. 29-32. Rotterdam, NL: Veenman Publishers.
Churchward video notes A-J. With Warren Olds. In: The national grid, 3, pp. 10-22.
Various contributions. With David James Bennewith. In: Playback for a daydream. Arnhem, NL: Werkplaats Typografie.
Nicosia flag. In: Nicosia this week. The unofficial guide to the biennale that never was, p. 187. Rotterdam, NL: Veenman Publishers.
A proposal for a psychosomatic signage system. In: Werkplaats typografie magazine.
Comeback: Joseph Churchward. In: Metropolis M, 6, p. 71.
Best verzorgde boeken 2005 / Best Dutch book designs 2005. With Sandra Kassenaar. In: Stedelijk Museum Bulletin, 03, pp. 18-20.
A pioneer of his type. In: ProDesign, 83, pp. 32-36.
Marianna, a biographical typeface. (13 June). In: Starting from zero lecture series. Arnhem, NL: Werkplaats Typografie.
Joseph Churchward. (26 February). London, GB: Royal College of Art.
(Untitled). In: Opening week 2008. (7 – 11 January). Maastricht, NL: Jan van Eyck Academie.
Informance. (7 December). With Katja Gretzinger & Nina Støttrup Larsen. In: Research on research III. Design practice research.Maastricht, NL: Jan van Eyck Academie.
Joseph Churchward. (9 November). Amsterdam, NL: Gerrit Rietveld Academie.
Breathing space poster project. (28 September). Carrington, NZ: Unitec School of Design.
Clean dirt. Photographic practise. (20 August). In: SPARC 2001. Waikato Polytechnic Department of Media Arts, Hamilton, NZ.
The goodbye series. (20 July). In: Black eye. Titirangi, NZ: Lopdell House Gallery.
Memory character, resurrection character. (28 May – 2 June). Auckland, NZ: Elam School of Fine Art.
Blind spot. Eight hours of work, eight hours for own infrastructure, eight hours for repose. (19 – 21 March). With åbäke, Sara De Bondt, Ruth Buchanan, Katja Gretzinger, Jens Schildt, Indrek Sirkel & Nina Støttrup Larsen. Maastricht, NL: Jan van Eyck Academie.
Memory character, resurrection character. (26 February). London, GB: Royal College of Art.
Goodbye 2005. (30 June – 28 August). Hamilton, NZ: Waikato Polytechnic Department of Media Arts.
Benniworth. (15 June – 10 July). Newmarket, NZ: Anna Bibby Gallery.
This should not be performed. With Ruth Buchanan & Rachel Koolen. In: Chanting Baldessari. (7 October 2008 – 25 January 2009). Maastricht, NL: Bonnefantenmuseum.
DEXPO. (12 April – 24 May). Arnhem, NL: Subwalk.
Ronchamp Poster/Typeface. With Karel Martens. In: Forms of inquiry. (8 October – 31 October). Architectural Association, School of Architecture, London, GB.
A translation of pages F80–F81 of Ken Garland The telephone as a tool for the graphic designer. In: Terms of use. (7 August – 15 August). With Various New Zealand and international graphic designers. Auckland, NZ: St.Paul St. Gallery.
Everyday. A poem for a dead ampersand. With Campbell Hooper-Johnson, Warren Olds, Simon Oosterdijk & Kelvin Soh. (9 – 17 November). Auckland, NZ: St. Pauls Gallery.
Breathing space poster project. Mobile carrion. With Howard Matil. (3 – 19 May). Various poster sites around Auckland City, NZ. Auckland, NZ: Creative Communities.
Goodbye (Newcall). With Fiona Amundsen & Ann Shelton. In: Deep-vein psychosis. (9 – 18 October). Auckland, NZ: Achilles House.
Breathing space poster project. Concorde. With Phillipa Fay, Simon Oosterdijk, Michael C. Place & Kelvin Soh. (16 September – 3 October). Various poster sites around Auckland City, NZ. Auckland, NZ: Creative Communities, Carrington, NZ: Unitec School of Design.
Cuckoo at critical studies test site. An egg. (23 May – 10 June). Malmö, SE: Rooseum.
Carlos Amorales. Discarded spider. (book). With Mevis en van Deursen & Felix Weigand. Rotterdam, NL: Veenman Publishers.
Chubby 8 (from biographical typeface). (knitted mohair cushion). With Conny Groenwegen. Arnhem, NL: Werkplaats Typografie.
The soul. (signage system, various sizes). With Andreas Müller. Trento, IT.
& (from Churchward maori). (perspex form). Self-commissioned.
This is the flow. (book). With Mevis en van Deursen. Amsterdam, NL: Valiz.
The heroic. (catalogue). With Sandra Kassenaar & Maxine Kopsa. Rotterdam, NL: Piet Zwart Instituut.
Unique act. (book). With Mevis en van Deursen.
Drumset with dog. (book). Harderwijk, NL: Uitgeverij d’jonge Hond.
Bik van der Pol. Istanbul: 59 locations (a format for nightcomers). (book). With Sandra Kassenaar.
Imagine action. (poster). Lisson Gallery Summer Show curated by Emily Pethick. With Kasia Korczak.
WT bookshop. (Offset poster with silk-screened print, used for display of books and pricing, signage for bookshop and wrapping paper). With Sandra Kassenaar.
Adding values: The cultural side of innovation. Arnhem, NL: ArtEZ Press.
National grid #4. (magazine issue cover). With Joseph Churchward.
Joseph Churchward. Suggestions. (A0 poster and stickers). Arnhem, NL: Colophon Press; Maastricht, NL: Jan van Eyck Academie.
Catalyst. (book). Amsterdam, NL: Vlaams Cultuurhuis De Brakke Grond.
From outside to inside to anyone being part of a family / a nation / documentation / lyric. (book). Enschede, NL: Dutch Art Institute (DAI).
Re-introducing Joseph Churchward. Arnhem, NL: Colophon Press.
Abris sous noms. Lasercut names into steel roofs and installed alongside building. Antwerp, BE: Koninklijk Atheneum Antwerpen.