Lost and Found

During my visit to the People’s Story Museum in Edinburgh, I encountered what looked like a simple metal block: a monotype caster matrix. On closer inspection, each tiny square revealed itself as a “window” framing movable letterforms, which inspired me to reimagine it as a visual timeline of monotype’s early history.

In my recreation, each row represents a key stage: the invention of the monotype, the rise of printing corporations, global distribution networks, and the birth of classic typefaces. The final artwork is composed of two layers made with collage and illustrative elements, with cut‑out letterforms pinned on the second layer so they can be moved just as in a real matrix.

This hands‑on recreation project brings new life into an old forgotten object sleeping in the museum, transforming it into both an engaging artwork and a creative educational tool for the public.