The Last Punch Cutter / Griffo Anniversary

GRIFFO, THE GREAT GALA OF LETTERS is a multidisciplinary project, involving a number of Italian and international partners and institutions, that aims to tell the polyphonic story of the Bolognese punchcutter and to revive the awareness of an invaluable tool that accompanies our daily life. The letters composing this text, just like most part of the letters we come across and read every day, are the result of the genius of a master craftsman whose identity has remained shrouded in mystery for centuries: Francesco Griffo da Bologna. An innovator who gave us the universal model for western type and who, may now finally be recognised as one of the great protagonists of the Renaissance. We owe to Griffo the invention of italics, which revolutionised the history of publishing. Inspired by calligraphy, italics enabled the production of the first low-cost editions, in a small format, thus facilitating the spreading of ideas and culture. The project’s activities started in December 2014 and they will come to a climax in 2018, marking the 500th death anniversary of this extraordinary man. A rich program, spread on the territory, of exhibits, audiovisual productions, installations, workshops, conferences and much more will engage a diverse audience from tourists and school-children, to professionals and enthusiasts. It will also be an occasion to reward local excellence by facilitating interdisciplinary opportunities and international exchange. The story of Francesco Griffo da Bologna will be told by historians, semioticians, journalists, writers, screenplayers, punchcutters, publishers, designers, architects and all those who behold his creation every day. The Griffo Project, the great gala of letters, is curated by Associazione Francesco Griffo Da Bologna, and created by Dina&Solomon