The Art of Lost Words, London

It’s a mystery why words ever become 'forgotten'. Design, clothes, haircuts – even slang - we understand (though don't always agree with); anything that was a hallmark of the time in which it was deemed cool, quickly outdates. Good, honest words though you’d think might be safe from the fleeting whimsy of fashion.
But this isn’t the case. Have you ever heard of the word ‘redamancy’? Probably not, yet the act of loving someone in return (the definition of redamancy) hasn’t become so rare that there’s no longer need for a single word to define it.
text/gallery, a new venture that seeks to explore the relationship between words, art and design has, quite literally, taken the matter in hand. For its inaugural exhibition they’ve commissioned over 40 new works by as many artists and designers inspired by ‘forgotten’ words.
Sam Winston, SPIN and Why Not Associates are just three of the brilliant group who’ve rolled up their sleeves and given new life to the lost words. The collection is on show for just 4 days (from 5th to 9th March) at the German Gymnasium in London, and, in a sweet attempt to make sure the rediscovered words don’t return to their forgotten fate once more, proceeds from the sales are being donated to the National Literacy Trust.
ADDRESS
The German Gym
Pancras Road
London NW1 2TB
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
-
Saint Laurent transports from ‘Paris to Fire Island’ for escapist S/S 2026 menswear collection
A mood of ease and escapism infused Anthony Vaccarello’s latest men’s collection for Saint Laurent, shown in Paris on Tuesday afternoon, which looked towards Fire Island and the queer artists that used it as a haven in the 1970s
-
Ten lesser-known haunts to make your Madrid stay memorable
Celebrated for its Beaux-Arts architecture, art museums and culinary creativity, Madrid continues to reinvent itself thanks to a buoyant cultural scene
-
Lulu Harrison is the Ralph Saltzman Prize winner 2025
The Design Museum, London, announces Lulu Harrison as winner of The Ralph Saltzman Prize for emerging designers, and will showcase her work from 24 June to 25 August 2025