Vietnamese Artisans Save some History
The ‘Republish: typography as …’ art show, HCMC, 2021.
posted by Paul Rowe, 21/01/21,HCMC.
Mr. Hoai Minh Phuong, a resident of Ho Chi Minh City, has been a sign writer for four decades.
His calligraphy skills (a traditional art/craft) became his livelihood.
Today, he is the ONLY sign writer left in HCMC who still paints signs by hand. (About 10 years ago, other sign writers started using computer generated stickers, written with English language based fonts.)
Shop-signs he painted 40 years ago are a RECORD of the history of Vietnamese writing styles (fonts).
His calligraphy skills (a traditional art/craft) became his livelihood.
Today, he is the ONLY sign writer left in HCMC who still paints signs by hand. (About 10 years ago, other sign writers started using computer generated stickers, written with English language based fonts.)
Shop-signs he painted 40 years ago are a RECORD of the history of Vietnamese writing styles (fonts).
Not so long ago, in trendy, friendly Ho Chi Minh City, a group of young designers, artists and computer nerds collaborated to find, save and promote old Vietnamese fonts.
From its long past, Vietnam now has its unique home-grown fonts.
Another high-quality, saleable Vietnamese product which will find its way around the world!
*
The Vietnamese font fans displayed their latest work recently in HCMC via their own art show.
Following are photos of that display.
At the end of the article is a link reinforcing the importance of fonts. How NASA has used fonts.
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- They asked Mr. Hoai Minh Phuong to reproduce some signs, as he would have painted them 40 years ago.
- The fonts he produced, along with other collected research, were then carefully analyzed. Key artistic elements were noted and worked on. From this creative work complete alphabets were designed.
- The results were then handed on to the computer experts. They painstakingly re-drew the fonts digitally.
From its long past, Vietnam now has its unique home-grown fonts.
Another high-quality, saleable Vietnamese product which will find its way around the world!
*
The Vietnamese font fans displayed their latest work recently in HCMC via their own art show.
Following are photos of that display.
At the end of the article is a link reinforcing the importance of fonts. How NASA has used fonts.
*
In all honesty, I have never contemplated the connections between sign writing, fonts and history.
I am glad I went to this art show. I learned something about typography and history.
I also met some of HCMC's keen young artists and designers, who love to share their work.
I am glad I went to this art show. I learned something about typography and history.
I also met some of HCMC's keen young artists and designers, who love to share their work.
VIETNAM HISTORY, CULTURE
and OTHER GOOD STUFF
posted by Paul Rowe, 21/1/21, HCMC.
and OTHER GOOD STUFF
posted by Paul Rowe, 21/1/21, HCMC.