Trying out a new style: by using good old 'MS Paint'. The end effect is interesting, to say the least. Subjects for these ambigrams are two of our favourites from past designs: Adolf Hitler and Jack (the) Ripper.

These are the submitted entries for our mini-challenge (so far). nagfa would like to extend our thanks and gratitude to all participating artists for these awesome contributions.

LIVERPOOL-RED DEVIL:

txescu (catalunia)arturo (chile)

ELAINE-KRAMER-GEORGE-JERRY:
azahary arif (singapore)
DREAM THEATRE-FEAR FACTORY:
bryce herdt (usa)
BLACK & WHITE-MYTH & LEGEND:
jen hill (usa)
JACK DANIEL('S):

txescu (catalunia)

alessandro (italy)

txescu (catalunia)

txescu (catalunia)

txescu (catalunia)

txescu (catalunia)

bryce herdt (usa)
SUPERMAN-KRYPTONITE:

ed xander (uk)

ed xander (uk)

azahary arif (singapore)
ruel (phillipines)

DOUGLAS HOFSTADTER-GODEL ESCHER BACH:

bryce herdt (usa)

nastybasty (germany)
STEPHEN KING-THE DARK TOWER:

manidipa (new zealand)
APOCALYPSE-ARMAGEDDON:
alessandro (italy)

SERIAL KILLER-JACK THE RIPPER:
bryce herdt (usa)

mini-challenge: solutions by Alessandro Pocaterra

Previously, we had posted some design proposals which had proved elusive to us for years (!); we never expected a solution for them, and definitely not quite so soon. Guess what, Alessandro Pocaterra from Italy proved us wrong. We were amazed, really, with his designs (NastyBasty's solution too, which we had highlighted in one of our recent posts), of how simple thin lines, fuss-free managed to be so effective. Here they are:

'Stephen.King's-Dark.Tower' - 'Eddie.Oy.Jake-Susannah.Roland' by Alessandro Pocaterra
'Jack.the.Ripper'-'Serial.Killer' by Alessandro Pocaterra
.

Recently, while sorting through our piles of papers (we are teachers, not hoarders, mind), we came across some old drafts of unfinished designs chucked away. So here goes, another list of elusive designs:

1. ambigram of armageddon-apocalypse

2. reflection of liverpool-red.devil
3. ambigram of black(&)white-myth(&)legend

4. reflection of Jack.Daniel

5. ambigram of Douglas.Hofstadter-Godel,Escher,Bach

.

If you're up for the challenge, do email us at: nagfa_ambigram@hotmail.com

Your work will certainly be compiled and shared with our visitors. Thank you in advance!

.

salam (peace),

nagfa

reflection: jack.the.ripper-1.serial.killer

.

Avoiding rotational ambigram altogether, we opted for reflection instead to solve this constant mind-itch. Personally love the outcome, especially the Es and the consistent R-K. A little cheat/trick here is the conversion of the 'J' into '1'. Style-wise (though some may beg to differ) very much influenced by NastyBasty's fine works. PowerPoint assisted(!).

ambigram: jack.the.ripper-grim.reaper

.

Another piece based on Jack the Ripper. PowerPoint assisted.

ambigram: freddy.krueger-jack.the.ripper

.

Phew.. One of our favourite designs to date. After trying many, many times for a 'Jack the Ripper - Serial Killer' ambigram (with most times being unsatisfactory; a lake reflection proves just elusive too, though Killer reflects to Ripper almost too easily, but that's another story..), we realised that another phrase/name could be made use. 'Freddy Krueger' seemed a natural choice due to the perfectly placed 'dd' to rotate from 'pp'. Thus, this ambigram piece of two legendary slayers: The Fiction and the Folklore.

.

Hereby, we'd like to extend our awe and respect to NastyBasty who had attempted 4(!!!) times to solve the elusive 'Jack the Ripper-Serial Killer' ambigram.

'Romanized Kufic': jack the ripper

.

After our recent experimentations in Kufic designing, make that pseudo-Kufic, we realise that our processes and presentations may demystify and betray the actual difficulty in the making of the authentic Kufic pieces. We have to admit that with the letters in Romanized alphabet easily manipulated to fit a 5x3 grid (the 'w' and 'm' maybe a 5x5 one), constructing a square - or at least a rectangle - portrayal of a word is indeed simple with the littlest of tweakings. The same thing could not be said of the proper Arabic Kufic; each letter has its own size difference in relation with another letter. Designers of Arabic Kufic have our deepest admiration, bar none. It is therefore, due to the same sentiment, that we try to design 'un-square' or 'un-rectangle' poor cousins of the esteemed Arabic Kufic designs. This can be seen from the above 'jack the ripper' design (inspiration: see previous post) where we attempted to construct a symmetrically-correct outline of the notorious moniker in history.

Romanized Kufic: jack the ripper2

.

Further exploration of the Kufic art also opened our eyes to some similarities between this Middle-Eastern art and intricate art offerings from the Mayas and Aztecs, Minoas and Greeks, the Gaelics and even the signature stamp/seal from the Japanese and Chinese paintings. Come to think of it, a modern version of the Kufic art can be seen in today's modern technologies, especially the circuit-patterns on waffle-discs and circuit boards!

.

Below is our ambigram version of the same subject:

ambigram: jack.the-ripper

Romanized Kufic: mary.jane.kelly

.

Mary Jane Kelly. The (assumed) fifth and last victim of Jack the Ripper. Murdered on this date in 1888.