Do the Write Thing, by Luca Barcellona

Do the Write Thing, Luca Barcellona’s second monograph, represents the ‘travelogue’ of a multifaceted artist who has been moving in the world of letters for nearly two decades. Ten years after the bestseller Take your pleasure seriously, Barcelona gives new suggestions through a large selection of new works – commissioned or personal projects – with which he recounts the maturation of his own taste and creative approach.

From more traditional calligraphy works to large-format works, through graphic design, illustration, engraving, and typography, and on to recent experiments with lettering through VR. Hundreds of calligraphic artwork and lettering for packaging, record covers, labels, murals and logos, as well as live performances with musicians and athletes. The book traces Barcelona’s journey through images and stories collected in the experience of the lettering world; a true school of life, starting from aesthetics to the spiritual path, what navigated calligraphers know as ‘the way of writing.

This is a more introspective book than its predecessor, reflecting at bottom the practice no longer of a calligrapher but of an artist using calligraphy. In addition to an authoritative and knowledgeable opinion on the state of the art of this discipline, corroborated by contributions from practitioners and colleagues of Barcellona, the book gives a new and fulfilling visual experience. Its 344 pages bring together more than 500 images in an elegant volume, aimed at calligraphers and calligraphy enthusiasts, designers, communication professionals, teachers and students.

Book design by Bunker.