Typographica at Kemistry Gallery

We love type. And so does Londonʼs Kemistry Gallery in Hoxton. The pioneering gallery that brought us Parra, Geoff McFetridge, Experimental Jetset, UVA, Eine and James Joyce is celebrating the joys of typography with the first exhibition from the groundbreaking graphic design journal Typographica. Founded in 1949 by the then 25-year-old British designer Herbert Spencer, the journal showcased the very best in worldwide visual arts including concrete poetry, avant-garde type experiments and photo-documentary, featuring the works of Dieter Rot, Robert Brownjohn and Alexander Rodchenko. Closing its doors in 1967 and split into two volumes, only 32 issues were published. Herbert Spencer then went on to be a professor of graphic arts at the Royal College of Art from 1978 until 1985, and passed away in 2002.

Something of a rarity these days, Typographica celebrated the craft and capabilities of publishing, using contrasting papers, multiple textured stocks, gatefolds and varied printing processes. This must see exhibition is curated by Rick Poynor, founder of Eye magazine and author of the book Typographica. The exhibition runs until 31st October and is part of the London Design Festival and the Icon Design Trail.