MONA CLEMENTS.
The Harlem Renaissance, which blossomed in the 1920s, stands as a pivotal African American artistic movement that laid the foundation for the twentieth-century civil rights movements. Courageous and influential voices, often risking their safety and lives, championed the right to express and convey the significance of the black community, black culture, and black history.
This period gave birth to remarkable visual art, music, and poetry. The creation of this typographic poetry book was a tribute to capture the profound emotions and meanings within the literary works of that era, serving as an homage to this expressive and culturally significant movement.
Research & Inspiration
These poems represented a form of social rebellion during their time. To echo this spirit, we made the deliberate choice to employ a bold, texturized, graffiti-like font, as graffiti itself is a form of rebellious artistic expression. This decision also paid tribute to the visual art prevalent during that era, emerging from the same cultural movement.
Adobe typefaces like Almaq, Motor-Stencil, Chandler 42, and Battery Park for their bold, textured qualities, akin to urban graffiti. Leveraging various typography systems, including bilateral, transitional, random, and axial, allowed us to infuse each poem with the energy and emotion it conveyed.
Furthermore, this typographic selection aimed to engage a younger audience, enticing them to explore a genre of poetry they might not have encountered before. Establishing hierarchy, weight, and direction played a pivotal role in accentuating specific words within the poems, offering readers a clear understanding of the poem's tone even before delving into the verses.
Typography
Emotions found expression through typography in this project. Utilizing various techniques, such as emphasizing impactful words, as seen in the poem 'If We Must Die.' Additionally, we manipulated the type structure to form relatable images, like the silhouette of a woman in 'Song In Spite of Myself,' symbolizing the author's longing to openly express her emotions, mirroring the woman in the poem. In 'We Wear The Mask,' we employed text-masking, while for Langston Hughes' 'I, Too,' we created an illusion of the New York skyline. Each layout was designed to narrate the essence of the respective poem, whether through train tracks or heartache, with letters cascading like emotions. The strategic typographic placement resulted in captivating and dynamic compositions. Furthermore, we curated a diverse collection of poems from both male and female authors, aiming to ensure equal representation in this project.
Colour Palette
Colour played a pivotal role in creating hierarchy and imparting movement within specific compositions. The use of black and white, in particular, introduced stark contrast and symbolized the coexistence of conflicting emotions—happiness and sadness. It also reflected the complex cultural experiences of African Americans during that period in American history, touching upon themes of inclusion and exclusion amidst racism and race relations.
​
An earthy yellow hue was employed with deep cultural significance rooted in African artwork and textiles. The Harlem Renaissance was a celebration of both African and American culture, encompassing music, art, poetry, and serving as a form of rebellion against racism and discrimination. The revival of these colours during the Harlem Renaissance and throughout the evolution of civil rights movements symbolized a reconnection to African roots. Yellow, in particular, signifies hope—hope for equality, peace, and inclusion.
