My Life in Ambigrammia
4 hours ago
- #art
- #ambigram
- #creativity
- The author recalls a childhood memory of seeing the Standard Oil of Ohio (SOHIO) logo, which could be read upside down as 'OIHOS', sparking his fascination with ambigrams.
- An ambigram is defined as a piece of writing designed to have multiple readings, combining Latin 'ambi' (two-sided) and Greek 'gram' (piece of writing).
- Ambigrammia is described as a blend of creation and discovery, involving creativity, 'discoverativity', 'explorativity', 'manipulativity', and 'projectivity'.
- The author shares his journey in creating ambigrams, from early crude attempts to more artistic and complex designs, including examples like his daughter's name and famous composers.
- Ambigrams can utilize various symmetries, such as rotational, mirror, or reflection, and can be adapted to different forms like capital letters or nicknames.
- The author reflects on the emotional and intellectual satisfaction derived from creating ambigrams, comparing it to the joy of discovering hidden beauty in music or art.
- Despite societal challenges, the author finds value in creating beauty through ambigrams, inspired by a friend's and daughter's belief in the power of art.
- The essay is an excerpt from the author's upcoming book, 'Ambigrammia: Between Creation and Discovery'.