Interview
John Langdon
John is passionate about both words and images. He freelances as a logo design specialist, and invented ambigrams, which led to him book Wordplay. And that led to his work for Dan Brown's Angels & Demons. John began painting in 1986. Words are the subject matter of almost all his work.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“My genetic heritage blessed me with abilities and passions for both words and images. Despite not being encouraged or supported as such, I have always known that I was an artist. I got a BA in English at Dickinson College with a special interest in word etymologies. Following graduation, I took drawing and painting courses at The Philadelphia College of Art and The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. My first place of employment was a type shop, where I learned an awful lot about typography. After a few years at a Philadelphia design studio, in the mid 1970s, I began freelancing as a logo design specialist, hand-lettering artist, and typography expert. I was greatly inspired by type designers Herb Lubalin and Ed Benguiat. I invented and pioneered the esoteric art form now known as ambigrams - words designed in a way that allows readability from more than one point of view. Wordplay, my book of ambigrams came to the attention of Dan Brown, who commissioned me to create seven ambigrams for his upcoming book, Angels & Demons. I began painting seriously and consistently in the mid 1990’s.”
What inspires you?
“My early painting inspirations were cubists, surrealists, and pop artists. My single most important influence was the Taoist symbol, yin and yang. Along with M.C. Escher’s work, it led directly to my ambigrams. Psychedelic poster lettering was influential, as well.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“While the subject matter of almost all my work is words, there are strong consistent themes of ambiguity and symmetry, either overt or spiritual. I have a slogan: “Things are as they appear to be. And they are otherwise.” You cannot understand anything from just a single point of view.”
How would you describe your work?
“Intellectually challenging, intriguing, and fun.”
Which artists influence you most?
“Braque, Gris, Dali, Magritte, Robert Indiana and Jasper Johns.”
“My early painting inspirations were cubists, surrealists, and pop artists.”
What is your creative process like?
“I work in series that are born of an overall idea. The words that are associated with that idea become the subjects of the paintings. I begin simply playing with a word or group of words. I doodle, looking for words that will cooperate with my goals, exploring the best way of composing the canvas, the size and shape, and the color.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“Andy Warhol’s exhibition at Gagosian Gallery in 1996 lit a fire under me. My small one-man shows at The Noyes Museum of Art and The New Britain Museum of American Art fueled my artistic ego and urged me to keep following my nose, my heart, and my love for words as images.”
Website: www.johnlangdon.net
Instagram: @6ambigram9
