The Opening Hours is proud to present a whole new series of interviews with a selection of the contributing artists in chapter 4 of Go Font Ur Self*. The exhibition “dedicated to exploring and pushing the diverse range of techniques employed in type design of past, present and future through original pieces of work from talented typographers worldwide.”
Today’s interview is with Timba Smits. A man that is busier than helvetica, and more talented than Rockwell. If it’s innovative type you’re after, check out Timba here here and here.
1. Describe yourself in a word
BUSY!!!
2. Describe your typography?
A double scoop of Nostalgic inspired hand drawn and computer designed
retro flavoured type topped with subtle textures and grainy goodness.
3. Do you adhere to the rules and regulations of typography, or make up
your own?
To be honest, i don’t even know the rules and regulations of type.
Call me dumb or call me stoopid but i just go with the flow and try to
have fun with it wherever i can. Rules seem to suck the fun out of
most things in my book.
4. What artists / typographers have influenced you in your recent work.
I’m a big fan of Gary Taxali, Nate Williams and Allan Sanders. Each
for their own classy use of type combined with thoughtful vintage
imagery.
5. What is the most acclaimed project you have worked on?
Wooden Toy Quarterly!!! The only quarterly magazine to come out once a
year and proud of it! haha!
6. what is it about typography that you love?
It’s uber challenging! It drives me up the wall most of the time but i
like that and enjoy working with type more than most other things.
Sometimes i feel it’s like a wild stallion that cannot be controlled!
7. What is your favourite letter and why?
The kind that you get from a girl saying that she loves you!
8. serif or san serif ?
I like both. But i guess i tend to use more San Serif type in my work.
9. what can we expect to see soon from you? Other projects, shows, etc.
The launch of Wooden Toy the music edition in April combined with the
Lyrics & Type 2 exhibition in London, followed up by the worldwide
launch of Street/Studio, a book i’m working on with Thames & Hudson
about Melbourne Street Artists and badda bing, badda boom, a solo show
in August in London and possibly Melbourne.
Check out Timba’s work at one of the Australia wide openings of Go Font Ur Self*
