Background:

16th April, 2022 was the 133rd birthday of the world’s most beloved performer: Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin Jr. - or Charlie Chaplin, as we know him. But this occasion comes after two years of great loss and grief, where humankind had begun to lose belief.

So, while we had celebrated Charlie’s life, films, and craft on numerous occasions, we felt he had something much more to offer to the world at this time – resilience. Because the little man armed with only a bowler hat, licorice boots, and a toothbrush moustache had endured more than his share of tragedies and despair. And yet, he found within himself the spirit to keep going.

With A Silent Frown, we wanted to use this very spirit of his to inspire many others. So that the man who put a smile on many faces, could now put hope in many hearts.

The Idea:

Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin Jr - Charlie Chaplin to the world – was thrown headlong into all the challenges life could possibly offer: estranged parents, poverty, familial illnesses, war, and economic turmoil. And yet, he had in himself the strength to look past them and find a way to put smiles where there were none.

Our vision was to capture his story in a piece of art: a one-of-a-kind book that narrated Chaplin’s tragic story in its pages, all coming together to form a whole much larger than the sum of its parts. A metaphor for his life, if there ever was one. Commissioned by the Charlie Chaplin Museum Foundation, the book sought to bring hope and belief to all.

Execution:

We designed a book titled A Silent Frown, whose every page had a transparent section with line-art illustrations depicting a grueling chapter of Chaplin’s life. When the reader flips through the book and stacks the pages together, the drawings all come together to form the visage of the legend.

A key challenge was to ensure each illustration stands alone, independently conveying a slice of Chaplin’s story, while also contributing to the larger visual effort. The art also had to be carefully sequenced, to achieve the ideal dark tones, middle tones, and highlights of Chaplin’s face; a task complicated by the need to establish chronology in the story.

A precise production process was used, marrying traditional screen printing on thin, anti-scratch acrylic sheets with an amalgamation of die-cut and flat-lay bookbinding.

Outcome:

We partnered with the Charlie Chaplin Museum Foundation: a not-for-profit organization dedicated to organizing charitable efforts that not only reflect the humanist values of Chaplin’s work, but also help promote art and culture.

On the occasion of Sir Chaplin’s 133rd birthday (16th April, 2022) we launched A Silent Frown at Chaplin’s World: a Swiss museum that works closely with the Foundation. The book was released by Mr. Eugene Chaplin, son of Charlie Chaplin - he released a signed copy to an audience of around 110 locals. A Silent Frown is available to the public for sale at the Chaplin’s World Boutique.

Several copies have been sold at 200 CHF each, bearing the signature and endorsement of Mr. Eugene Chaplin. All proceeds from the sales are diverted towards the Foundation’s initiatives of developing cultural activities around Chaplin’s work, including workshops and film screenings for youngsters to whom access to culture is challenging.

Charlie Chaplin Museum Foundation - A Silent Frown

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