Cosmic Communications by Mark Webster

Cosmic Communications is a continuation of Mark Webster's ongoing Cosmic series in which he explores the algorithmic space of typographic signs, symbols and letters using a single typeface. Inspired by the early pioneering work of the concrete poets such as Dom Sylvester Houédard, Ian Hamilton Finley, Steve McCaffe, and Bob Cobbing, this self-authored lexicon of glyphs serves as atomic units that populate Mark's graphic universe with communicative potential.

This small collection of works is an attempt to work with a reduced repertoire of shapes held within the typeface in order to observe the interaction of these with motion and color. These fifty short video loops are like little quotations showcasing the breadth and limitations of the program — systems of unified wholes.

Through the language of typography and grids, new languages are conjured through code and emerge as visual narratives that decorate time with assemblages.  Limitations become possibilities as modular geometric forms are arranged to take shape as compositions that echo Mark's fascination with language to become visual poetry.

The Cosmic Typeface.
The Cosmic Typeface.

Cosmic Communications is a curated generative series. This process turns the algorithm into a creative collaborator that generates thousands of visual possibilities which can be curated into a collection for delivery via verifiable randomization upon demand. New mediums, new tools, new possibilities.

Cosmic Communications uses mainly lines, squares and circles from the typeface.
Cosmic Communications uses mainly lines, squares and circles from the typeface.

Mark’s curation leaves us with 50 selections from a myriad of Cosmic Communications. These cosmic messages loop in rhythmic pulses that convey a sense of incoming signals streaming from deep space. Downlink established, uplink communications send commands between distant worlds in tiny graphic packets that delight the eye and mind.

Cosmic Communications are messages that create meaning from its own atomic structure of geometric form. Poetry that describes itself with visuals.

Mark Webster was born in Canada, raised in England and currently lives in France. After graduating in London with a modern languages degree in 1997, he moved to Paris and began to orientate his work towards the arts. This has involved an eclectic mix of activities in diverse areas such as animation, sound design, graphic design, teaching and even a stint as a journalist working in the field of motion design.

In the last couple of years, his efforts have been devoted to developing a body of personal artistic work that is driven by curiosity to explore and experiment with code-based media. He creates art and graphic work primarily using custom-made software tools along with computational and generative strategies as his main approach.

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