Cover Page
Overview
Background
This task invited me to design a studio-research experimental book that interprets and extends original visual research documenting a selected community with which I am familiar with or connected to.
This task invited me to design a studio-research experimental book that interprets and extends original visual research documenting a selected community with which I am familiar with or connected to.
Solution
As I myself am part of this community, my research and experimentation was deeply meaningful to my self-identity. From a young age, I have personally felt the dysphoria that other Australian-born Chinese (ABC) millennials can also relate to, with difficulties in finding a middle ground between being Chinese and Aussie at the same time; I didn't fully recognise the significance of this divided identity until my discovery of the viral Facebook group 'Subtle Asian Traits', the main inspiration for my selection of this community. I discovered an intense appreciation for traditional Chinese culture and a disdain for the struggles that an Asian person growing up in Australia would feel.
As I myself am part of this community, my research and experimentation was deeply meaningful to my self-identity. From a young age, I have personally felt the dysphoria that other Australian-born Chinese (ABC) millennials can also relate to, with difficulties in finding a middle ground between being Chinese and Aussie at the same time; I didn't fully recognise the significance of this divided identity until my discovery of the viral Facebook group 'Subtle Asian Traits', the main inspiration for my selection of this community. I discovered an intense appreciation for traditional Chinese culture and a disdain for the struggles that an Asian person growing up in Australia would feel.
While this book is in no means a way to solve all the difficulties and complexities prevalent in the Chinese-Australian community, it provided an opportunity for me to ponder upon them as well as consider ways to integrate my Chinese heritage into my modern Australian life without feeling conflict.
View a couple PDF spreads from this book below. Inspired by dragon scale book-binding, the physical book shows the pages compiled together.
Chapter 4
Chapter 10
Process
Dragon-Scale Book-binding
This style of book-binding is an Ancient Chinese art form dating back to more than 1000 years to the Tang Dynasty, traditionally reserved for royalty and the highly educated elite. It was recently resurrected by Zhang Xiaodong, who studied and conducted research on a single existing example from the Forbidden City Museum.
This style of book-binding is an Ancient Chinese art form dating back to more than 1000 years to the Tang Dynasty, traditionally reserved for royalty and the highly educated elite. It was recently resurrected by Zhang Xiaodong, who studied and conducted research on a single existing example from the Forbidden City Museum.
The chapters are carefully placed into frames, forming "scales" that form a complete image when viewed from a certain angle.
Typography
Language is a largely defining aspect of culture than cannot be ignored; Chinese characters in particular have a certain beauty and charisma in each stroke.
Language is a largely defining aspect of culture than cannot be ignored; Chinese characters in particular have a certain beauty and charisma in each stroke.
Here I attempt to find a way to incorporate this into my book despite not knowing how to write in Chinese or understanding a majority of Chinese letters. The typography on the book takes inspiration from various forms of Chinese characters, found printed in newspapers, painted as traditional calligraphy and morphed digitally to create an image.
Brocade
I have a single piece of traditional Chinese dress, made of red brocade. Red is typically worn by a bride on her wedding day. In the photos, the red fabric stands out against other patterns that originated from Western fashion.
I have a single piece of traditional Chinese dress, made of red brocade. Red is typically worn by a bride on her wedding day. In the photos, the red fabric stands out against other patterns that originated from Western fashion.
My dad's hands
Many young Asian-Australians are children of immigrant parents who reflect the strong and strict work ethic of traditional Asian values. These young Asians often feel a level of heartache yet gratefulness towards their parents' struggling in transforming and rebuilding their lives after immigrating.
Many young Asian-Australians are children of immigrant parents who reflect the strong and strict work ethic of traditional Asian values. These young Asians often feel a level of heartache yet gratefulness towards their parents' struggling in transforming and rebuilding their lives after immigrating.
MADE IN cHINA
The 'Made in China' label is stigmatised as some may believe that objects made in China may be cheap or of low quality due to the enormous amount of products manufactured in factories in China.
The 'Made in China' label is stigmatised as some may believe that objects made in China may be cheap or of low quality due to the enormous amount of products manufactured in factories in China.
