The optimism of modernity: recovering modern reasoning in typography

List of exhibits

Lenders & collections

Dennis Bailey [DB]
Chris Burke [CB]
Martin Colyer [MC]
Ken Garland [KG]
Brian Housden [BH]
Eric Kindel [EK]
Robin Kinross [RK]
James Mosley [JM]
Bruce Robertson [BR]
Joseph Rykwert [JR]
Anna Yandell [AY]
Edward Wright collection [EWC] and Paul Peter Piech collection [PPP] at the Department of Typography & Graphic Communication, University of Reading

Material

1. Edward Wright by Paul Peter Piech, late 1970s. [PPP]

2.–5. Drafts and storyboards for a book project,  Codex atorrantis; dated 19. 01. 1974. [EWC]

6. Codex atorrantis, finished in 1984. [AY]

7. Layouts for Codex atorrantis on transparency paper, not dated. [AY]

8. Set of postcards Seis palabras en lunfardo / Six words in lunfardo, printed by EW, 1983. [DB]

9. Self-initiated poster Chaplin connected to Codex atorrantis project, 1975. [EWC]

10. Self-initiated poster Gesture comes connected to Codex atorrantis project, 1975. [EWC]

11. Self-initiated poster Codex atorrantinis, 1976. [EWC]

12.Architectural Association Journal, July–August 1963, cover designed by EW [RK].

13. Brian Housden, ‘Edward Wright environmental graphics’, Architectural Association Journal, July–August 1963, pp. 16–7, special number on EW.

14. An envelope with Lagos hotel house style, designed by Pat Crooke, Maria Fraxedas, Joseph Rykwert and EW for Lagos Hotels, 1961. [JR]

15. ‘wfwr’ logotype for a design enterprise by Germano Facetti, EW, Lance Wright and Joseph Rykwert, c. 1960. [JR]

16. Useful and metaphoric objects, catalogue for EW’s exhibition at the Mayor Gallery, 1948. [AY]

17. Six concrete poems, designed by EW, published on the occasion of the Concrete Poetry Festival, Brighton 1967. [AY]

18. Five Christmas cards, printed by EW, early 1980s. [AY]

19. Ian Hamilton Finlay, Four sails, designed by EW, early 1970s. [AY]

20a. Sketches of layout for exhibition design for ‘Dada and surrealism reviewed’ exhibition, 1977; tracing paper. [EWC] detail.

20b. Sketches of layout for exhibition design for ‘Dada and surrealism reviewed’ exhibition, 1977; tracing paper. [EWC] detail.

20c. Sketches of layout for exhibition design for ‘Dada and surrealism reviewed’ exhibition, 1977; tracing paper. [EWC] detail.

21. Publicity materials for ‘Dada and surrealism reviewed’ exhibition at Hayward Gallery, designed by EW, 1978. [MC]

22. Notes and sketches from files for ‘Dada and surrealism reviewed’ exhibition, 1977. [EWC]

23. Poster for ‘Dada and surrealism reviewed’ exhibition at Hayward Gallery, designed by EW, 1978. [EWC]

24. Poster for ‘Dada and surrealism reviewed’ exhibition at Hayward Gallery, designed by EW, 1978. [EWC]

25. Small square posters for ‘Dada and surrealism reviewed’ exhibition, with different quotes. Used as flyers to be left in various places without further information, as a surrealist gesture, 1978. [EWC]

26. Posters for ‘Dada and surrealism reviewed’ exhibition, typographic, printed on different kinds of paper; 1978. [EWC]

27. Invitation to the exhibition of EW’s work at the Mayor gallery, 1959, designed by Joseph Rykwert. [JR]

28. Catalogue for the exhibition of EW’s work at the Mayor gallery, 1959, designed by Joseph Rykwert. [JR]

29. Theo Crosby’s magazine Uppercase, no. 2, 1959, dedicated to EW. In his introduction Crosby describes EW as ‘the only artist in England who has used communication as his theme’. [RK]

30. Sketches and drawings for a symbol for Architectural Association Journal, 1961. [EWC]

31. Architectural Association Journal, June 1961, cover designed by EW. [AY]

32 This is tomorrow, catalogue of the exhibition at the Whitechapel Gallery, designed by EW in 1956. [AY] In addition to the catalogue design, Wright worked with Theo Crosby on the design of the exhibition as well as participating in group 1, with Theo Crosby, Germano Facetti and William Turnbull.

33 This is tomorrow, catalogue of the exhibition at the Whitechapel Gallery, designed by EW in 1956. [AY]

34 This is tomorrow, catalogue of the exhibition at the Whitechapel Gallery, designed by EW in 1956. [AY]

35 This is tomorrow, catalogue of the exhibition at the Whitechapel Gallery, designed by EW in 1956. [AY]

36 This is tomorrow, catalogue of the exhibition at the Whitechapel Gallery, designed by EW in 1956. [AY]

37 This is tomorrow, catalogue of the exhibition at the Whitechapel Gallery, designed by EW in 1956. [AY]

38. Ernesto Cardenal, Milpa, translated and designed by EW, 1988. [EWC]

39. Preparatory drawings and sketches for Milpa, 1988. [AY]

39a. Catalogue for ‘John Heartfield: photomontages’ exhibition (London: The Arts Council of Great Britain, 1969) designed by EW. [EK]

40–44. Student work from 1st year design course at Chelsea College of Art and Design – explorations into different numeric systems – under EW’s direction. EW was Head of Graphic Design at Chelsea from 1971. [Presented to Department by Bruce Robertson, now part of EWC]

45–49. Ken Garland, monoprints made on platen press, designed at the ‘experimental typography’ evening classes at the Central School of Arts and Crafts run by EW from 1952–6. Among other students were Derek Birdsall, Alan Fletcher,  Colin Forbes, Ivor Kamlish, Bill Slack, Philip Thompson and many others.

– Monoprint of letters j, no. 1
– Monoprint of letters j, no. 2
– Monoprint of numbers, letters and punctuation
– Monoprint of rules, type and assorted blocks no. 2
– Monoprint illustrating statement about 3D spectacles

50. Poster for ‘Painting and sculpture of a decade, 54–64’ exhibition; The Tate Gallery & Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, 22 April – 28 June 1964; designed with Robin Fior. [EWC]

51. Catalogue for ‘Painting and sculpture of a decade, 54–64’ exhibition, designed by EW and Robin Fior. [CB]

52. Leaflet for ‘Painting and sculpture of a decade, 54–64’ exhibition, designed by EW and Robin Fior. [CB] detail

53. Joseph Rykwert, The Golden House (designed and printed by Anthony Froshaug, 1951), with a ‘frontispiece by Edward Wright’. [RK]

54. Georges Balandier, Political anthropology (London: Penguin Books, 1972); cover painting by EW. [AY]

55. David Jackson, The adventure of engineering (London: Rathbone Books, 1960); designed by EW and Bruce Robertson. [BR]

56. Laurie Lee, David Lambert, Man must move (London: Rathbone Books, 1960); designed by EW and Bruce Robertson [BR]

57. Flow chart of exhibition at LCP in 1976, showing posters and other elements, pen drawing. [EWC] detail.

58. Drawings of hands, black pen with red notation, not dated. [EWC]

59. ‘Con la sinistra’ ink drawing, c. 1960. [JR]

60. ‘Orthodox motifs’ charcoal drawing, c. 1955. [JR]

61. ‘Cross in the water’ pencil drawing, c. 1955. [JR]

62. ‘The Magi’ print (Three kings), c. 1946/7. [JR]

63. ‘Mobile’ pen drawing, c. 1957/8. [JR]

64. ‘Xmas card’ (chi-rho), 1970. [JR]

65. Notebook no. 2, January 1955 – January 1959 [AY] and print-outs.

66. Notebook no. 2, January 1955 – January 1959 [AY] and print-outs.

67. Notebook no. 2, January 1955 – January 1959 [AY] and print-outs.

68. Notebook no. 2, January 1955 – January 1959 [AY] and print-outs.

69–72. Notebook no. 5, 19 September 1972 [AY] and print outs.

73. Colour drawing of the lettering for the 6th International Union of Architects Congress, South Bank, London 1961. (Scanned from: Brian Housden, ‘Edward Wright environmental graphics’, AAJ, July–August 1963, pp. 20–21.)

74. Photos of the 6th International Union of Architects Congress; 1961. [EWC]

75. Plan for lettering on congress building for the 6th International Union of Architects Congress, South Bank, London 1961; with Theo Crosby. [EWC]

76. Plan for lettering on congress building for the 6th International Union of Architects Congress, South Bank, London 1961. Tracing paper roll. [EWC]

77–79. Lettering for a commemorative stone, Imperial College London, Princess Gardens, architectural plans and photo, [for Architects Sheppard Robson and partners], 1963. [EWC].

80. Alphabet for Imperial College London [for Michard Sheppard & Partners] 1963. [EWC]

81. Lettering for Westminster Cathedral, Canadian Air Force inscription; aluminium relief lettering, drawings from 1971. [EWC] detail.

82. Drawings for Hinsley House alphabet, 15 August 1964; [EWC].

83. Alphabet for Hinsley House in London, 1964; and in use for a Cambridge Darkroom signage from 1980s. [EWC]

84. Brinkman alphabet, for the Architectural Association, drawn 1960. [EWC]

85. Alphabet for special issue of AAJ, drawn 1960. [EWC]

86. Cover of AAJ, with EW’s lettering, December 1960. [BH].

87. Brinkman alphabet, for the Architectural Association, white on blue, drawn 1960. [EWC]

88. Alphabet for House of the Future, Ideal home exhibition at Olympia [for architects Alison & Peter Smithson], drawn 1956. The alphabet was also used for a title of a well-known BBC programme ‘Out of the unknown’ designed by Bernard Lodge. [EWC]

89. Alphabet for Ulster Museum; 1965. [EWC]

90. Lettering for a commemorative stone, Churchill College Cambridge [for Richard Sheppard, Robson and Partners], drawn alphabet, 1961. [EWC]

90a. Flaxman alphabet for New Scotland Yard, drawn 1967. [EWC]

91. A photo of mobile illuminated sign for New Scotland Yard, photo: James Mosley, 1972. [JM]

92. Alphabet Flaxman Semi Bold, wood letter for Chelsea School of Art; drawn 1969. [EWC]

93–94. Two photos of mobile illuminated sign for New Scotland Yard, black and white, photo: Euan Duff, 1968. [EWC]

95. Notes and sketches of New Scotland Yard sign, 1967–8. [EWC]

96–97. Layout and poster for ‘Film as film, experiment in film 1910–75’ exhibition organised by Arts Council, Hayward Gallery, 1979. [EWC]

98. Poster for ‘Three perspectives on photography: Recent British photography’ exhibition, Hayward Gallery,  1. 6–8. 7. 1979. [EWC]

99. Lettering for Tate Gallery Liverpool, 1988. This was the last project designed by EW. The building was described as ‘the most important new museum to open in Britain in living memory’ by Richard Weston in ‘Stirling statement’, Architects’ Journal, vol. 187, no. 27, 6. 7. 1988, pp. 32–49. Photos are from that article. Wright was never really credited for the lettering. Information design for interior was done by Pentagram.

100. Poster for Edward Wright’s travelling exhibition organised by The Arts Council, 1985. [EWC]

101–102. Layout and poster for ‘New Printing – New York’ exhibition at Hayward Gallery, 3 May – 17 June 1979. [EWC]

103. Drawing for ‘Artists for democracy’ festival poster, London 1974. [EWC]

104. Finished poster for ‘Artists for democracy’ festival, London 1974. [EWC]

105. Poster ‘Metamorphoses’ for a Cambridge festival exhibition at Kettle’s Yard, 8 July–13 August 1978. [EWC]

 

« Return to previous page

A selection of work by Edward Wright can be seen below. Or click the title of the item to view a larger version.