Seed Syllable
Seed Syllable
In Seed Syllable, the typographic images are crafted from 50 different writing systems from across the globe. These sit alongside watercolour inks — 11 of which are made from foraged substances originating in the regions where the language is spoken.
“The link between language and land is an ancient one. There have now been several major studies showing a correlation between language diversity and biodiversity. Whilst there isn’t yet a consensus on why that is the case, a clear overlap exists between regions harbouring endangered languages and endangered plant and animal life. What we have to say will always be shaped by the landscapes in which we say it”.
The watercolour artworks are reproduced using archival, light-fast synthetic ink, a decision owing to the fact that this is one of the most long-lasting colour reproduction methods. While the original, handmade
inks are much more fugitive in nature, they also offer compelling stories and far more dynamic colour ranges.
Printed on Tosa Washi 28gsm paper (pH 6.5) with UltraChrome archival pigment-based inks on an Epson SureColor SC-P9000.
First printing of Seed Syllable in 38 copies of which 8 are deluxe, all editions come with 11 original swatches of foraged inks
Hand-bound at Book Works, London. Produced in 2026 by After Books.
Ink Regions:
Tibet, Middle East, Bangladesh, Ireland, West Africa, North America, Maldives, Canada, Ancient Egypt, Crete, United Kingdom
Scripts & Type:
Phaistos, MV Typewriter (Dhivehi) and Noto Sans — Ogham, Thai Ul, Oriya, Mandaic, Bamum, NKo, Cham, Tagbanwa, Carian, Chakma, Thaana, Javanese, Syloti Nag, CJK SC, Bengali, Sinhala, Vai, Buginese, Hebrew, Linear B, Buhid, Tamil, Armenian, Tibetan, Kayah Li, Sundanese, Georgian, Cuneiform, Lepcha, Limbu, Cherokee, Rejang, Kharoshthi, Carian, Myanmar, Naskh Arabic, Syriac East, Egyptian Hieroglyphics, Malayalam, Tagalog, New Thai Lue, Adlam, Rejang, Georgian, Canadian Aboriginal, Yi, Tifinagh.