Abecedarians
KINGS Artist-Run, Melbourne, 2026
‘Abecedarians’ was a group show curated by Daniel John Pilkington, featuring works by Mark Gowing, Aaron Perkins, Lani Knezevic, and the curator.
Alphabets are usually invented by graphic designers or typographers. Why would an artist want to create their own alphabet? Perhaps to write something that can only be written in this alphabet. Perhaps to give voice to something that wants to be written or said in its own script. Or perhaps to explore the materiality of writing itself.
In this exhibition, each artist has created their own alphabet and either used it to produce a singular act of writing or to present the alphabet itself as a work of art. The show suggests that new alphabets mean new ways of writing. Alphabets are reimagined as sites of invention, disruption, and possibility. Each artist asks: what does it mean to make a new alphabet, and what kinds of communication become possible through it?
Daniel John Pilkington, ‘Array’, Hydrostone, 70 x 70 cm
Documentation: Sebastian Kainey
Mark Gowing, 'Language system of counter oblongs (I wish I had listened)' (Natural ochre, acrylic, graphite and book pages on aluminium, 73 x 56 cm, 2025) and 'Language system of counter circles (This one is a song)' (Acrylic, graphite and book pages on aluminium, 73 x 56 cm, 2025)
Aaron Perkins, 'Odradek', Unique glyph components of Butler Stencil (Medium), reformed and excised from cardboard with acrylic and cement, Nine components, various dimensions, 2026
Daniel John Pilkington, 'Array', Hydrostone, 70 x 70cm, 2026
Lani Knezevic, 'Kaladont! (Game over, I won)', 'Novoslov Alphabet (in order of Gaj’s Latin and Serbian Cyrillic)' and 'Novoslov cursive (words for practice)', Pen and pencil on paper on foam board, 30 x 39 cm, 2026
Work by Aaron Perkins, Lani Knezevic, and Mark Gowing. Mark Gowing, 'Language system of counter ellipses (e-bike in garden, e-bike in river)', Enamel, acrylic, graphite and book pages on aluminium, 106 x 89 cm, 2025
