MERCURIO ︎︎︎ FREE TYPOGRAPHY BY W TYPE FOUNDRY
W Type Foundry is a typography studio based in Chile & London.
CHILEANS: THE MERCURIO LIES, read the banner Pedro Cardyn hung up at Chile’s Pontificia Universidad Católica (PUC) central campus on August 11th, 1967. The phrase, calling out a mainstream newspaper El Mercurio, was meant to expose the conservative right-wing’s attempt to impose neoliberalism on the country. 52 years later, we can say that the phrase remains clear and relevant, and it can beapplied to the media. Lies and an imposed false normality have been a quiet, daily habit. The good news is that their absurd lies have become evident, and we no longer believe them. This project was born in 2018 as a joint exploration with artist Alfredo Da Venezia.
While using 3D printing to replicate the front of the PUC building, we rescued the letters in the original banner, digitized them and programmed them as a font, using mapping to replicate the original gesture.
When we began this project, we tried to channel our feelings of unease through the comfort of what we knew how to do. We never imagined that a revolution on the scale of what we’re living in Chile would take place. People’s response to the state’s constant abuses through the instruments of its power has been harsh and beautiful. The list of those wounded, tortured and killed is not tolerable.
When we began this project, we tried to channel our feelings of unease through the comfort of what we knew how to do. We never imagined that a revolution on the scale of what we’re living in Chile would take place. People’s response to the state’s constant abuses through the instruments of its power has been harsh and beautiful. The list of those wounded, tortured and killed is not tolerable.
Neither is our selfishness. Each of us must fight andcontribute to the new Chile that is being built. That is why we are making this font freely available, to use as another tool in this scenario. We know it’s a small contribution within our context, but we have to rethink our political actions against the current capitalist system. Because capitalism is in the details, deep within each of us, and that can only change when our actions become collective and guided from aplace of love. We hope for a solution to this, and by solution we mean an end to neoliberalism and the construction of a healthy society.
WE ARE GIVING AWAY 10 COPIES OF THIS A1 22”X33” POSTER! JUST ADD TO CART ︎
