TOM MAZZULLO

INCANTATIONS


When I started drawing letterforms, I was looking at actual, three-dimensional sign lettering salvaged from building demolitions and sold as decorations or as scrap metal. Looking at the letters as a simple still-life, I became interested in the proportional relationships between parts of a letter and the whole, and the rhythms found among the different forms as they appeared in arrangement. Later on, I saw that arranging these letters produced what could be seen as new and unusual words, a lost language of "incantations". Recent works repeat letters, creating new forms and rhythms. Later works in this series are drawn from type samples – raised letters on their characteristic blocky support – and having so few samples to draw, I imagine other letterforms based on the examples I have in my possession. All of these works play with language and its abstract relationship to reality – exploring how language changes reality, and asking how words and letters themselves change language.

Type Improvisation on n, 2017, silverpoint with highlight on prepared paper, 10 x 10 inches

Type Improvisation on n, 2017, silverpoint with white gouache on prepared paper, 

10 x 10 inches

Type Improvisation on u, 2017, silverpoint with white gouache on prepared paper, 13 x 10 1/8 inches

Type Improvisation on u, 2017, silverpoint with white gouache on prepared paper, 

13 x 10 1/8 inches

Type Improvisation on G, 2017, silverpoint with white gouache on casein-prepared paper, 9 1/4 x 13 3/4 inches

Type Improvisation on G, 2017, silverpoint with white gouache on casein-prepared paper, 

9 1/4 x 13 3/4 inches

Type Improvisation on f, 2017, silverpoint with white gouache on casein-prepared paper,  10 3/4 x 11 7/8inches

Type Improvisation on f, 2017, silverpoint with white gouache on casein-prepared paper, 

10 3/4 x 11 7/8inches

Cube³, 2016, silverpoint with white gouache on prepared paper, 16 x 16 inches (sheet size)

Cube³, 2016, silverpoint with white gouache on prepared paper, 16 x 16 inches (sheet size).

Pucker, 2016, silverpoint on prepared paper, 11 1/2 x 14 1/2 inches (sheet size)

Z Ring, 2015, silverpoint with white highlight on prepared paper, 12 1/4 x 14 inches. Private collection.

D-Tower, 2012, silverpoint on prepared paper, 15 x 12 inches

D-Tower, 2012, silverpoint on prepared paper, 15 x 12 inches

MMMMMMM, 2012, silverpoint on prepared paper, 12 x 24 inches (sheet size)

MMMMMMM, 2012, silverpoint on prepared paper, 12 x 24 inches

HERUM, 2006, silverpoint with white casein on prepared paper, 10 x 20 inches

HERUM, 2006, silverpoint with white casein on prepared paper, 10 x 20 inches

OU, 2010, silverpoint with white casein on prepared paper, 12 x 9 inches

OU, 2010, silverpoint with white casein on prepared paper, 12 x 9 inches

UR, 2006, silverpoint on prepared paper, 10 x 12 inches

UR, 2006, silverpoint on prepared paper, 10 x 12 inches

© 2024 Tom Mazzullo