LETRAS DE LOS NOMBRES DE LOS PAISES EN EL SURSYSTEM 09 MAGAZINE

Al trabajar con artistas, siempre se descubren nuevas imágenes y formas. El alfabeto es diverso y flexible, y lo fascinante de esas particularidades es que al usarlo de forma verbal o escrita, siempre conserva esas características, algo que se podría comparar con los inmigrantes y sus idiomas. En New York la inmigración es diversa, y los lenguajes que se usan para comunicar, incluido el inglés, se vuelven flexibles para poder permitir esa comunicación. Estas son las letras de los países de los dichos que se escogieron para aparecer en el próximo número del Sursystem Magazin. Como se puede ver, todas son diferentes y únicas, como lo son quienes las hicieron y quienes las compartieron. Cuáles países crees que están representados con estas letras?

Working with artists always leads to the discovery of new images and forms. The alphabet is diverse and flexible, and what is fascinating about these qualities is that—whether used in speech or writing—it always retains them; this is something akin to the experience of immigrants and their languages. Immigration in New York is diverse, and the languages ​​used for communication—English included—become flexible to facilitate that exchange. These are the letterforms representing the countries associated with the sayings selected for the upcoming issue of Sursystem Magazine. As you can see, each one is distinct and unique, just like the people who created and shared them.

By
Marcelo Arroyave
Editor, Producer, Researcher
NYC

LETTERING FROM THE SURSYSTEM 09 MAGAZINE IMMIGRANT' SAYINGS NEW EDITION

Desde hace ya unos meses vengo trabajando en la producción del Sursystem magazin 09 Immigrants' Sayings from NYC, un proyecto que inicié en Marzo del 2025 pero que tiene unos origenes mucho más lejanos y personales. Hasta ahora he recibido 38 dichos escritos en lettering que van a aparecer en esta edición del magazín; quiero compartir con todxs ustedes el trabajo maravilloso que han realizado algunxs de lxs artistas que muy amable y solidariamente se han sumado al proyecto. Solo comparto una palabra de algunos de los letterings que han llegado para que se animen ha conseguir el impreso y así conozcan los dichos y el trabajo completo de lettering que aparece en él.

Como dato curioso quiero resaltar que a algunos de lxs artistas les tocó crear el lettering en un idioma que no conocían, todo un reto pero también un incentivo para la imaginación. 

Aunque aquí solo muestro 23 typos/palabras de los dichos, en total llegaron 38 dichos realizados en diversos letterings. Algunxs artistas crearon letterings para 4 dichos, otrxs 3, algunxs otrxs de 2 y la mayoria 1. Fueron 18 artistas lxs que se sumaron a este colectivo Sursystem que quiere traerles esta coleccion de dichos recolectados en NYC por medio de encuentros con muchxs inmigrantes. 

Muchas gracias a todxs lxs que se sumaron a este colectivo efímero que tiene como único fin mostrar la diversidad cultural y lingüística de NYC. 

Que disfruten!

For several months now, I have been working on producing Sursystem Magazine Issue 09: Immigrants’ Sayings from NYC —a project I launched in March 2025, though its origins go back much further and are deeply personal. So far, I have received over 38 hand-lettered sayings that will appear in this issue, and I want to share the wonderful work created by the artists who so kindly and generously joined the project. I am sharing just a single word from some of the lettered pieces to encourage you to get a copy of the print edition, so you can discover the sayings and the full lettering work featured inside. 

As an interesting detail, I’d like to highlight that some artists had to create lettering in a language they didn’t know—quite a challenge, but also a stimulus for the imagination. 

Although I am showcasing 23 designs here, a total of 38 pieces of lettering were submitted. Some artists created four sayings, others three or two, and the majority produced one. Eighteen people joined the Sursystem collective to bring you this collection of sayings, gathered in NYC through encounters with many immigrants.

Many thanks to everyone who joined this ephemeral collective, whose purpose is to showcase the cultural and linguistic diversity of NYC.

Enjoy!

Marcelo Arroyave

Fundador del Colectivo y Magazin Sursystem, Cali, Colombia 2004.

 

University Open Air: From Fields to Cities: The Journey of Sayings

This lecture explores the fascinating evolution of popular sayings, tracing their roots in rural communities and examining how they’ve been reshaped in urban environments. We’ll look at how these expressions reflect cultural and social changes as they move from agrarian life into city living.

We’ll begin by discussing the role of oral tradition in preserving cultural wisdom, and how sayings have served as tools for teaching values, caution, and humor. Then, we’ll explore the historical shift during industrialization, when rural populations migrated to cities, bringing their language with them. We’ll see how these sayings adapted to new urban realities and how they continue to bridge generational and cultural divides.

At the end of the lecture, participants will be invited to share rural sayings that are still used today, as well as sayings from their own backgrounds that have had a positive impact on their lives in New York City.

Day One Lecture at UOA

Day Two Lecture at UOA

I hope you can join me at this lecture. The people who share their sayings will get the sayings book if their saying is selected to be published. 

Marcelo Arroyave

Last member of the Sursystem Collective 

Transmitting from the falling Empire!