Denis Brown

Denis Brown has been inspired by Ireland’s ancient manuscripts since his schooldays; his formal training in traditional calligraphy was at London’s Roehampton Institute. Now his work explodes from and extends those traditions in the form of innovative modern works of art, with awards and commissions over four continents

Brown push boundaries while continually refining and extending traditional skills. He uses letterforms and writing to create three-dimensional layered works of art where a thousand words may paint a picture. At a time in history where handwriting is being eclipsed by e-mail, text messaging and other digital means of communication, Browns work explores the meaning and function of being a scribe in the 21st century.

The great book of Ireland is a huge volume of 250 pages, 510 by 360 by 110mm, it bring together the work of 121 artists, 143 poets and 9 composers who painted, drew and wrote directly on the vellum. Calligraphy by Denis Brown to each opening serves to unify the book

A Thousand Wishes' series, Calligraphy in Glass, 2009 

Brown asked people to e-mail him a wish, he then wrote many hundreds of their wishes into these works. Etched in glass and with writing layered on top of writing, the wishes remain mostly secret/illegible, but they embody 3-D images of dandelion 'blow balls'. In releasing a private wish to he  hoped it might become more tangible to the wisher.

 

Glass Table  with centerpiece made of layered glass calligraphy

Tabletop
10mm glass, toughened, edge-beveled, and acid etched on both sides.

Centerpiece
8 sheets of hand engraved & etched picture glass, in an asymmetric shape. These are layered 6mm apart over a background sheet of watercolor paper, which bears a mono printed image composed from blurred scans from the glass engraving. All are held together in a wooden frame that slots into a plywood base that has been painted & rough gilded with aluminium.

Description of central image
A vortex of engraved lettering, whirling outward in 3-D from a black central cavity. The top left corner of the asymmetric form features layers of frosted glass stepping downward over the 3 dimensional depth. In context of themes brown has used in other glass art, the central vortex may suggests either an eye or a womb.

 

Preview image of proposed architectural glass installation of calligraphy by Denis Brown. Aluminum frames of 5cm depth hold multiple spaced layers of hand engraved glass & Plexiglas. 3-D 'text'ures of overlapping layers of writing build images that contain messages that may be partially deciphered by the careful observer on close inspection and related to site specific concerns.

 

 

Gothic lettering does not have to follow traditional alphabet styles or so called Old English calligraphy. This example derives as much from an understanding of italic. It is browns own style as much as any style.

Rythmic typography