United Kingdom, 04.11.2024
An innovative, text-based creations have earned James Cook international acclaim for their blend of language and design. He has produced artwork for celebrities, television presenters, musicians and famous businesses.
Tell us about your project
Typed with a 1930’s Smith Premiere typewriter, the artwork took 2 weeks to type and contains well over 500,000 letters, numbers and punctuation marks. Concealed within the drawing are hidden typed messages revealing the history of the Colosseum, where its name derived from, the type of events and performances that took place here in addition to some quirky easter eggs from the movie Gladiator!
What inspired you?
I started creating typewriter art in 2014 as part of a school project during my final years in college. This year, I am celebrating a milestone; 10 years of creating typewriter art. While researching for my school art project, I chanced upon Paul Smith, an American artist from the early 20th century, who used typewriters to produce intricate drawings.
Despite suffering from cerebral palsy, which prevented him from using traditional art tools like pens or brushes, Paul Smith persevered and used a typewriter instead which gave him the mechanical control to create beautiful artworks. His career spanned over eight decades, ending with his death in 2007. His detailed depictions of landscapes, wildlife, and portraits left me in awe and profoundly inspired me when I was at school.
I trained to be an architect after I left school but found myself returning back to typewriter art.
What does paper mean to you?
Paper means nothing without the typewriter! It’s the typewriter that enables me to produce these incredibly-intricate drawings. I use heavyweight paper. I occasionally work outdoors on-location with portable typewriters. If the air is humid, the typewriter hammers will punch holes through the paper and damage the artwork. The way around this was to create drawings on thick cartridge.
What are you up to right now?
I am working on a picture of NYC’s Flatiron building. I will also be making a visit to Central Hall Westminster in November to type a picture of the London skyline on-location.
