TITLE
Masetzu LogosyllabaryARTIST/DESIGNER
Aleks HafermaasDATE
2022 The Masetzu Logosyllabary is a fictional script inspired by the ancient
Mayan writing system of Mesoamerica. This writing system combines the
characteristics of syllabaries and logographies, using modular images
to represent objects and concepts. The challenges lay in creating distinctive
symbols to represent the thousands of consonant-vowel combinations in
English, while allowing these symbols to convey broader meanings. Thesesymbols are richly rooted in the physical world, encompassing depictions
of human organs, abstract figures, plants, animals, and man-made objects.
Masetzu distinguishes itself from the original Mayan script by incorporating
“shells” that surround the characters to define the parts of speech (nouns,
verbs, adjectives, etc.) and small “tags” to signify when a symbol should be
interpreted symbolically rather than phonetically. This project extends
the script’s artistic expression into other media, such as ceramic sculptures
and abstract art, fostering a dialogue between tradition and modernity.
Artwork courtesy of Aleks Hafermaas. All rights reserved.