[ISEA2015] Artist Statement: Yeohyun Ahn — TYPE+CODE!!!

Artist Statement

TYPE+CODE II is a collection of my typographic research by using computer codes directly. It explores the aesthetic of experimental code driven typography by using Processing created by Ben Fry and Casey Reas. Initially it began with my MFA thesis, TYPE+CODE, at Maryland Institute College of Art, in 2007, and then, it has extended to my lifetime research project since I graduated. Through TYPE+CODE II, I have experimented with traditional and cultural oriented calligraphy to reinterpret into modern and contemporary typography with the computer codes. It crosses boundaries between calligraphy, graphic art, typography, and computer art. I use letterform, words phrases, and sentences to explore innovative typographic forms and solutions by using mathematic expressions, computer algorithms such as Binary tree and L-system and libraries. They convey diversified visual messages inspired by nature, addressing environmental issues such as green design, healing through arts, exploring philosophical and religious interpretation regarding life, death and love. The updated version, TYPE+CODE III, shows the possibilities of an extension of the aesthetic of code driven typography from cyberspace to physical space by using digital fabrication and various media.

To implement my visual ideas, I referenced Geomerative Library and Caligraft (caligraft.com) created by Ricard Marxer, Binary Tree Algorithm (data structure in computer science composing of parent nodes, or leaves), L-system algorithm, simulating dimensional tree forms with fractals and the fonts, Arial, Helvetica, Stanford from jenniferdickert.com, in Processing, created by Casey Reas and Ben Fry. yeoahn.com/typecode/index.html

  • Yeohyun Ahn (University Of Wisconsin–Madison, USA) is an award-winning typographer, interactive visual designer, and educator. Her works have been featured through Washington Post, PRINT, New York Times Magazine, Letter Arts Review, Creator’s Project, Designboom.com, and so on. She was chosen as Design Incubation Fellow in 2017, the Juror’s Choice Award at IDEAS in 2015, and Graduate Fellowship from Maryland Institute College of Art in 2009. Her works have been published in the books, Graphic Design: the Basics, Type on Screen, and Data Driven Graphic Design. She worked as a freelance graphic artist in the New York Times Magazine. She taught at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago State University, and Valparaiso University. Now she is an assistant professor in Art department at the University of Wisconsin Madison. Having immigrated last two decades as a designer in America brings her to be aware of social inequity, discrimination, and marginality. Currently, she explores computational graphic art for social homelessness being isolated and marginal in professional areas of American society.  eastasia.wisc.edu/staff/ahn-yeohyun