Geotype Submission

The Geotype project charts the rich history of lettering and type forms that have established the identity of cities and towns around the world. Explore the map

How does this letter-form communicate its location?

Here we can see how Type has been used in the construction of a war memorial. The brass plate is secured to a tree that was brought from the battlefields of Verdun during the 1914-1918 war. The tree stands adjacent to the towns war memorials, the Priory Church, and a children’s play park. In my view, this gives the placing of the object a more profound presence and signifies a relationship between all three locations. This is evident in the choice of font, which aligns itself with the tone of the subject in question. The typography takes on a greater meaning when viewed in-situ, and communicates a firm connection between the memorial and the adjacent priory. It tells the viewer that the landscape in which the memorial is located possesses an almost divine quality, which in-turn contributes to the elevation of the message itself. The materials too, are indicative of the narrative that is being conveyed to us. The weathering of the brass and the cosmetic damage that is present on the surface of the structure denoting the destructive nature of mechanical warfare. In response to the tone of the message therein, which is arguably one of loss and forlorn hope, we must once again refer to the placing of the signage. Adjacent to this sign is the children’s play park, and for me this geographic relationship establishes both a literal and philosophical dialogue between life and death. The children’s play area evoking a sense of rebirth and new life, free of the burdens of war.

Location

Leominster HR6 8NP, England, UK