“Shake Hands” in Leige, Belgium. All images © Pref, shared with permission
For British artist Pref, the art of decipherment is as integral to his murals as the expressively layered designs. Known for looping and layering blocky text to give the illusion of floating forms, contrasting letters wriggle, tilt, overlap, and cast bold shadows. His training in graphic design spurred an abiding fascination with typography, and while much that field is oriented toward clear communication, Pref is interested in literally twisting messages. He meticulously arranges each letter to form puzzle-like compositions, encouraging the viewer to work out a word or phrase. “The wording for my pieces are usually autobiographical,” he explains, “like clues and relics from my past or a commentary on current times.”
You can see more of Pref’s work on his website and follow updates on Instagram.
“Put you in a box” in Liège, Belgium
“Nuture, Nature” in Sand City, California
Left: “You are the one.” Right: “Off and on”
“Remarkable” in Jackson, Michigan
“Here we are” in Los Angeles, California
Left: “Blah blah blah.” Right: “Say bye”
“Drifting” in Ostend, Belgium
“Inspire, Expire” in Bayonne, France
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Source: Art - thisiscolossal.com
