#LDF13 ‘Exotic’ by Lizzie Hobbs

Hobbs has designed the word ‘Exotic’ “to reflect some of the cultures which are thriving in London. Each letter has been designed to reflect the script from these cultural languages and then filled in with patterns—Islamic, Middle Eastern and South Asian. The piece has been drawn freehand. ‘E’, ‘O’ and ‘I’ reflect Persian, Urdu and Arabic. ‘X’, ‘T’ and ‘C’ reflect Bengali, Tamil and Hindi.”

Inspired by India and the Middle East, on her travels Hobbs collects ideas from architecture, landscapes, and textiles, to create unique pieces reflecting these exotic cultures. Her freehand artwork, drawn to commission, is similar to henna designs and Indian rangoli, a form of art drawn onto the ground using flour or coloured powders. The freedom and endless possibilities of design add to the charm, where each one created holds their own character and significance.

In cultures where patterns are very evident and often symbolic, Lizzie’s artwork embraces these rich designs. Her pieces range from decorative to thought provoking, portraying messages and having stories woven into them.

‘Exotic’ by Lizzie Hobbs is one of the words that will be displayed at Type Tasting with the London Design Festival 2013 at the V&A.