Trading Words is the new typographic installation at London Docks

Weird words that used to ring around London’s docks in the trading heydays will be revived again for an art installation at a major waterside regeneration project, reports the Wharf.

“Esparto Powder", “Sweep washers’ Dirt” and “Drugget” alongside dozens of other rich phrases, comprise the typographical installation at London Docks, the 1.800 home development at Wapping created by renowned artist Gordon Young, in conjunction with graphic designer Andy Altman of Why Not Associates.

“Trading Words is the first work in London for Young who is renowned for his large-scale installations, including The Comedy Carpet in Blackpool. The artist specializes in creating public art works which become part of daily life and reflect his passion for literature and poetry” writes the report.

“The lists and inventories of items, which had crossed the site over the past centuries, are so lengthy that they seem to stretch into infinity and beyond. They came into existence because every word had a value attached. Andy and I distilled the words into a confection which made us curious and think of them as a poetic representation of this immense tide of things from all over the globe, which happened to accumulate in this spot in east London” said Young.

Based on the historic rates and tariff-books which list goods imported and exported via London over the last 400 years, Trading Words brings the past to present through letters.

Trading Words was  officially unveiled on Wednesday February 22, and will be accompanied by a pop-up exhibition that will runs until April.

Explore it here.

Images by Lee Mawdsley / www.leemawdsley.co.uk