Art Preview: Typing My Heart Out @ Subway Gallery

Tabish Khan
By Tabish Khan Last edited 133 months ago
Art Preview: Typing My Heart Out @ Subway Gallery
Why I Love Hammersmith Bridge in Under 100 Words, 2009. Typewriter art by Keira Rathbone 2013 all rights reserved.
Why I Love Hammersmith Bridge in Under 100 Words, 2009. Typewriter art by Keira Rathbone 2013 all rights reserved.
My Weapons of Choice, 2010. Typewriter art by Keira Rathbone 2013 all rights reserved.
My Weapons of Choice, 2010. Typewriter art by Keira Rathbone 2013 all rights reserved.
Esztergom Basilica, Slovakia. Typewriter art by Keira Rathbone 2013 all rights reserved.
Esztergom Basilica, Slovakia. Typewriter art by Keira Rathbone 2013 all rights reserved.
Keira Rathbone (with typewriters). Photo: Gareth Garnder
Keira Rathbone (with typewriters). Photo: Gareth Garnder
The 3 Muscateers. Typewriter art by Keira Rathbone 2013 all rights reserved.
The 3 Muscateers. Typewriter art by Keira Rathbone 2013 all rights reserved.
Early Typing, Tim, 2004. Typewriter art by Keira Rathbone 2013 all rights reserved.
Early Typing, Tim, 2004. Typewriter art by Keira Rathbone 2013 all rights reserved.

Look closely at these impressive 'sketches' and you'll see miniature letters appear — this is because these works have been made entirely on a typewriter. Keira Rathbone has been creating typewriter art for 10 years and this exhibition looks back at her previous pieces and her latest additions.

We first encountered Keira at the Other Art Fair, and were impressed both by the works on display and the fact that she was typing live with complete focus and an ability to drown out all background noise. The 'drawing' of Hammersmith Bridge across three sheets of paper is particularly impressive, and she's also captured famous persons such as the Queen and Barack Obama.

There's a nostalgic feel to Rathbone's work in that typewriters these days are seen as defunct and just a distant memory to those of us who grew up in the computer age. Rathbone is an impressive artist and her works needs to be seen up close to truly realise how brilliantly intricate they are.

Keira Rathbone: Typing My Heart Out is on at Subway Gallery, Kiosk 1, Joe Strummer Subway, Edgware Road / Harrow Road, W2 1DX from 8-16 February. Admission is free.

Last Updated 05 February 2013