On Thursday me and my peers had yet another unique chance to experience old typography, and the past ways of printing. In the morning we made our way to the St. Bride Foundation Institute, which houses some of the world’s rarest type specimens, including original samples of fonts that we know and love today. We also got the chance to see original Egyptian papyrus with writing on it.
Not only did we get the chance to view these specimens, but we were able to experience how printing evolved throughout the years, and even got to partake in hand using a printing press, where we each got to make a print and take it home. It was really amazing to have a hands-on experience with the printing press, which is something not many people can say.
Later in the day we made our way to the Tate Modern Museum. This is an institution that houses British and international modern and contemporary art. On entering the museum I was greeted with a fleet of robotic swirling jellyfish floating in the front of the building. I have to say this was my favorite aspect, and art piece at the Tate. The artist named this installation “In Love With the World.” I’m not sure what it was about these jellyfish that captivated me, but the Artist Anicka Yi pushed me to further think about the reasoning and positioning of them. They redefine artificial intelligence, and lead you to think about the way these may later inhabit the world. Anicka Yi asks us to process this commission as further understanding ourselves and our positioning as humans in the ecosystem.
Apart from “In Love With the World,” my second favorite installation at the Tate was called Babel. Made in 2001, this large-scale sculpture is in the form of a circular tower that is made up of hundreds of second-hand analogue radios. Each of these radios are turned on and have audio playing at different volumes, leading the overall sound to be a conjunction of different voices, sounds, and songs. The artist of this piece, Cildo Meireles refers to Babel as a “tower of incomprehension.” I found it really interesting as you heard something different at each side of the tower as you made your way around.
A Message from the Office of Global Engagement:
The safety and security of Drexel students is a priority for the University. As part of the efforts to support Drexel students that are studying abroad during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Office of Global Engagement has conducted a rigorous review of programming and provided additional support to participating students with customized pre-departure orientations and regular check-ins during the required self-isolation period and the term.
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