Tom Koch Blog
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Advertising in Southern Laos
Been there, Don Det
The region of the Si Phan Don in southern Laos can, with little exaggeration, be described as the very end of the world. Of the countless islands scattered across this stretch of the Mekong, only a few are inhabited, and a mere three have seen any degree of tourist development. The electrification of the islands has brought with it a modest prosperity—alongside a steady flow of visitors. Where competition emerges, so too does the impulse to advertise.
Signs of Saigon
Tracing Old Saigon
Inspired by the Signs of Saigon project by Steffi Neukirchen, I set out on my first trip to Ho Chi Minh City in December 2019 with the expectation of encountering a wealth of historic lettering. As it turned out, it proved less straightforward than expected.
Vietnamese Newspaper Titles
Colourful roadside finds
A chance discovery not far from the memorial to Thích Quảng Đức—who set himself alight in Saigon on 11 June 1963 in protest against the persecution of Buddhists: at a roadside stall, the colourful newspaper headlines immediately draw attention.
Stoke Newington
The secret of the Gravestones at Abney Park
At Abney Park Cemetery, subtle details emerge upon closer inspection of the gravestones. The lettering, in particular, appears almost as if it had been applied to the surface, bearing a striking resemblance to letterpress printing plates in both form and presence.
