2018_02_14_ARQ_paul_elliman

The London artist, Paul Elliman, gave a class lecture to the second year students of design of the School of Architecture of the University of Navarra, in which he introduced his internship of more than 30 years through examples of works made from the beginning of his degree program to the present.

In them, Elliman's constant preoccupation with language and its relation to the body as a material for work, whether in a more graphic way through posters, artist's books, etc., or through the voice, could be appreciated. As an example, he showed a sound piece consisting of different voices imitating the siren sound of different police cars. In addition, he explained the development of Found Font, his most recognized work.

One of your best known projects is Found Font. A project that was created in the late 80's and continues to grow today. What is the core topic of its success?

Any design is successful if it works as intended. For me, Found Font' s success has to do with the fact that I'm not a professional design. When I think of this one, I tend to think of things that irritate me. Things that exist in principle for our benefit, but whose real goal has more to do with controlling a certain aspect of society as a form of consumerism.

I think of design as a mechanism that controls how I exist, how I think, how I become a citizen.

I am more interested in this area as a self-defense mechanism. I think one should study design in the same way one studies Law, Environment, Linguistics or Medicine, to develop critical thinking about how the world exists. And to know, how we have been "produced" and the role we take as part of it.

In this way, we would learn more in a creative, rather than passive way by thinking of design as a creative act or a profession. It is a commercial tool for the reproduction of prevailing beliefs in society.

As a teacher, you are on contact with students, the future professionals of design. How have you seen the development of this area until today?

I consider myself fortunate to have been able to work before the advent of technology. It is true that I am very interested in the impact that the computer has had and that it has revolutionized the world around us. I think it has brought with it bad things, but certainly good things as well.

What committee would you give to our students at School of Architecture to progress in their professional degree program ?

Just do things your way.