GO FONT UR SELF*

Overview

GO FONT UR SELF* is returning to Sydney with chapter 3 in its series of typographical revelations.

With a truly international line up of ‘typographic misfits’ – hailing from Sydney, NYC and the Ukraine amongst others – GO FONT UR SELF* celebrates the taken for granted art of typography. The work of graphic designers will show alongside that of graffiti artists, fine artists and a Japanese calligrapher.

Talented with pen, mouse, can and brush these artists make everyday stuff better to look at. Honour them and share in the food and drink and the Bad Wives DJ produced ambiance at Peer Gallery in Glebe, Thursday 15 October.  (RSVP gofonturselfsydney@peergroupmedia.com)

Junko Azukawa, master calligrapher and the woman behind that beautiful new Kirin Beer label, will be painting some limited edition calligraphic prints - one of which you may just be lucky enough to take home. I caught up with Junko and she enlightened me on the finer strokes of her artistic practice.

You have collaborated with/done commissions for photographers, fashion labels and Kirin Beer as well as sustain your own practice. Why do you believe calligraphy is so universally appealing?

Calligraphy is many things; from simple strokes like the work I did for the Kirin beer label, to highly stylised scripts for advertising, to completely abstract characters, which appear more like a picture than a font. The link between them is the dynamism and immediacy of the work, which comes from the artist’s state of mind during the creation of a piece. I think this attracts people to calligraphy because they can share the moment of creation with the artist. If you look at a piece of calligraphy carefully, it is possible to retrace the exact brush movements, which were used to make the piece. So I think there is an honesty in calligraphy that people appreciate.

You've been studying calligraphy since you were five and are a now a teacher yourself, how important is it to you to keep the art alive?

Calligraphy has a history of more than 3000 years and is one of the most important art forms in Japan. In my culture, calligraphy is a very important way for people to express and develop themselves. Personally, I have learnt so much from studying calligraphy so it is really important for me to expose as many people as possible to this art. Coming to Australia has been a great opportunity to pass on calligraphy to people who would otherwise not have had an opportunity to experience it.

How do you balance the sometimes competing interests of tradition and innovation?

For me, the most important thing is to be myself as an artist. In many ways I am a traditional person and I love my cultural heritage, but living in Australia has exposed me to many new and different ideas. I can see now that my work has unconsciously evolved to become something new and different to traditional calligraphy. That said, I still love to incorporate elements of traditional calligraphy into my art.

What is the inspiration behind your work that we'll see at the Sydney GO FONT UR SELF*?

I am going to create a new work on the day. It will be my first time to visit Sydney so I’m sure I will draw lots of inspiration from all the new sights and sounds.