On the 21st of August, at 6pm we are opening a new exhibition at TYPA gallery, which focuses on the Monotype ABC book, that was printed and bound at TYPA centre!
The Monotype system revolutionized typesetting and the process of book making in the world and Estonia. Using a uniquely complex and challenging two-part process, it was key in book printing and allowed for both beautiful design and mass production (something which does not traditionally go hand in hand).
Over the last year, the TYPA team has been researching these beautiful, complex and challenging machines.TYPA is home to the last Monotype Caster and Keyboard used in Estonian print shops. A machine which is recently working and operational. In celebration of this machine, TYPA has published a Monotype ABC book, a beautifully designed book, composed and set by the Monotype and printed in house.
This exhibition will present the book, the Monotype system, its process and ingenuity, along with the history of Monotype in Estonia.
The Monotype ABC is a bilingual artbook (Estonian and English) which has been composed on the Monotype machine and printed in the relief printing technique. The book reflects on Monotype history in Estonia and gives an overview of the lexicon neccessary for compositing. Every term is accompanied by a short description and an illustration set on Monotype.
The exhibition is a part of a creative research project, KUM-LU17 “Artistic rediscovery of the hot metal typesetting,” supported by the Ministry of Culture of Estonia.
Exhibition will be open until December 7th. Visiting the exhibition is free for everybody!
TYPA gallery is open from Wed-Sun, 12pm-6pm.