The Artwork of Alan Irwin

Klingon 4-Sided Die, 2008

Amboyna Burl

¾ inch x ¾ inch x 1½ inches

Pyrography, Klingon Script

This 4-sided die is engraved with Klingon script for the numbers 1 through 4. Klingon is a constructed language created for the Star Trek universe owned by Paramount. The written script is as well defined as the language (works of Shakespeare have been translated into Klingon).

The pictures, below, show each side of the die in the order of the numeric value – the first photo shows the symbol corresponding to the number 1, the second for the number 2, etc.

Although a part of my Script series (as well as the Kinetic series), the meaning of the symbols is a stronger than usual element in the design of this object. This is a fully functional 4 sided die that is meant to be used, and so the numeric transliteration of these symbols was used in its design.

Cirth 4-Sided Die, 2008

Amboyna Burl

¾ inch x ¾ inch x 1½ inches

Pyrography, Cirth Script

This 4-sided die is engraved with Cirth script for the numbers 1 through 4. Cirth was created by J. R. R. Tolkien to illustrate his stories (e.g. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings).

The pictures, below, show each side of the die in the order of the numeric value – the first photo shows the symbol corresponding to the number 1, the second for the number 2, etc.

Although a part of my Script series (as well as the Kinetic series), the meaning of the symbols is a stronger than usual element in the design of this object. This is a fully functional 4 sided die that is meant to be used, and so the numeric transliteration of these symbols was used in its design.

Reh, 2008

Maple

1½ inches diameter x 6½ inches height

Dye and Pyrography, Vulcan Script

This hollow vase is engraved with a stylized Vulcan calligraphy. The Vulcan language is artificial, created for the Star Trek franchise owned by Paramount. Although a spoken syntax and vocabulary have been developed for the language, the written script has not been standardized. The calligraphy script I’ve used on this piece has been derived from images seen on TV and in movies. There is no translation for this script.

The title Reh is the Vulcan word for “three”.

As with each piece in my Script series, I am interested more in the abstract imagery of the script rather than the translation of the language.