Visual culture
11 November 2020
From analogue to activism
magCulture Live goes digital next week, for a two-day conference that celebrates the creative and social powers of magazines
Dividing its focus between ‘activism’ and ‘analogue’, magCulture 2020 shows that even in difficult, disruptive times, printed magazines keep their fingers on the pulse of the moment, writes Alex J. Todd.
29 October 2020
Sea, sky, paint and pattern
Rich, decorative patterns shape our experience of the British seaside. The sixth in Justin Burns’s series on coastal graphic design
Patterns and decoration have long informed the design of seaside architecture – promenades, amusements, hotels and shops. Arcades, piers and theme parks display bunting, flags and decorative signage that create an entertaining environment, writes Justin Burns.
4 September 2020
Artificial sunshine
Illuminated lettering signals entertainment and escapism by the sea. The fifth in Justin Burns’s series about coastal graphic design
If we take away the bright lights is there a place? The Blackpool Illuminations first lit the Lancashire seafront in 1879 when they were described as ‘Artificial Sunshine’, and remains an annual event every autumn, writes Justin Burns.
30 July 2020
A matter of (sour) taste
The Slavs and Tatars collective makes satirical exhibitions and installations that use pickling as a metaphor. By Gabriela Matuszyk
‘Pickle Politics’ is an eight-work cycle from collective Slavs and Tatars, writes Gabriela Matuszyk.
20 July 2020
Pier review
Decorative typography and lettering evoke the halcyon days of the British seaside. The fourth in Justin Burns’s series about coastal graphic design
Lettering, typography, and accentuated three-dimensional signs dominate the British coast, writes Justin Burns.
6 July 2020
Say their names
In the weeks following George Floyd’s death, Minnesota’s Twin Cities filled with graphic expressions of rage, mourning, solidarity and hope. By Steven McCarthy
In the wake of George Floyd’s unwarranted death at the knee of a Minneapolis police officer, the graphic landscape of Minnesota’s Twin Cities has exploded with expressions of rage, mourning, solidarity and hope, writes Steven McCarthy.
18 June 2020
Roses and castles
Anthropologist Rowan Gatfield investigates the visual culture of Brayford Pool’s narrow boats
‘A Narrow Truth’ is a project that aims to illuminate hidden aspects of the waterborne legacy of Brayford Pool, Lincoln’s inland harbour, which dates back to the Roman Military Period (AD43), writes Rowan Gatfield.
3 June 2020
Books of seaside revelations
Guidebooks have enticed visitors to resorts since the nineteenth century. The third in Justin Burns’s series about coastal graphic design in the UK
For decades, the guidebook has navigated visitors through the bright lights of the seaside, showcasing the attractions and architectural splendour of the British coast, writes Justin Burns.
27 May 2020
Virtual Anno
The online exhibition ‘Anno’s Journey’ is a delightful overview of work by one of Japan’s most revered illustrators. By Clare Walters
You may have missed ‘Anno’s Journey, The World of Anno Mitsumasa’ in real time, but you can now see this excellent exhibition online – and it is well worth a visit, writes Clare Walters.
11 May 2020
Tom Hautekiet, 1970-2020
Belgian designer Tom Hautekiet was one of the smartest, most energetic practitioners of his generation. His witty and subtly subversive spirit will be missed. By Jan Middendorp
On 30 April 2020, Belgian graphic designer, illustrator and musician Tom Hautekiet died unexpectedly at his family home, aged only 50. The Flemish cultural world was devastated, writes Jan Middendorp.