M•A•C Cosmetics Presents: Typography

M•A•C Cosmetics Presents: Typography
Makeup was the medium of choice for a team of 22 M•A•C Artists,
who showcased a type-inspired body painting exhibit

“Type design is one of the most visible and widespread forms
of graphic expression in daily life. It is still not noticed by all
readers of newspapers, magazines or books. Nevertheless letter forms
reflect the style of a period, and its cultural background.
We are surrounded by them everywhere.”
-Hermann Zapf
German Typographer
1918 – present

May 28, 2010 – Toronto: On Wednesday night in Toronto, makeup took centre stage at the Burroughs Building where 22 M•A•C Cosmetics artists from across North America came together to create a typography-inspired live art installation. The artists took type design, something that readers of magazines, newspapers and books don’t always notice, blew it up and hand drew it onto a typically unconventional medium of expression for typeface – the human body.

Body painting is a skill that takes years of practice to develop. For an installation like Typography, artists must paint with meticulous detail and choose the right products to use in order to ensure the models look perfect. “We're using various mediums along with the new M•A•C Acrylic Paint (launching in August), which is our primary product of choice due to its ease of use and incredibly long wear time.” – Tiffany Johnston, M•A•C Senior Artist and Typography Key Artist

Showcasing M•A•C artistry and creativity at its best, this traveling exhibit incorporates a live performance in certain cities. Toronto, being a major artistic hub, was the perfect backdrop for a multimedia installation that incorporated calligraphy and dance. Noriko Maeda used a laser light to “draw” across the backdrop of the stage, where two dancers (William Yong and Kristy Kennedy) performed for guests and played with the light.











Photo Credit: Vito Amati/Pimentel