Regardless of cultural background, one should be able understand the text as long as one is thoroughly entangled in modern life. Xu bing spent seven years gathering materials, experimenting, revising, and arranging thousands of pictograms to construct the narrative of book from the ground. Xu bing following his classic work book from the sky, the chinese artist xu bing. Tianshu is the title of a book produced by chinese artist xu bing in the style of fine editions from the song and ming dynasties, but filled entirely with meaningless glyphs designed to resemble traditional chinese characters. A prolific and versatile artist, xu bing has created a range of works that explore traditional and experimental bookmaking and printmaking best exemplified by his iconic installation book from the sky and language including his invention of square word calligraphy and the ongoing book from the ground, as well as animals and nature. The book about xu bings book from the ground walmart. Following his classic work book from the sky, the chinese artist xu bing presents a new graphic novelone composed entirely of symbols and icons that are. The book from the sky is one of the most intriguing chinese art installations of the century, and the nifty work of none other than the celebrated chinese artist xu bing. Since 2008, bing has experimented with increasingly less traditional methods and materials of communication. Book from the ground, until 28 february, centre for chinese contemporary art, thomas street, manchester, m4 1eu. Xu bings interest in symbols inspired him to make book from the ground, a novel written entirely in symbols. Xu bings book from the ground is composed entirely of symbols, emojis, emoticons, whatever you want to call them. What is xu bings impressive book from the sky all about. From point to point, part of xu bing s wider project book from the ground, is a 112page novel depicting 24 hours in the life of an ordinary office worker, mr black, from seven one morning to seven the next, as he wakes, eats breakfast, goes to work, meets friends, looks for love online and goes out on a date.
Book from the ground is a novel written in a language of icons that i have been collecting and organizing over the last few years. Installation view at blanton museum of art, the university of texas at austin, 2016. Focusing on the relationship between text and image in each of these works, it explores the relation between verbality and visuality in multimodal literary art. Currently residing in beijing, he used to serve as the vicepresident of the central academy of fine arts. The artist first compiled symbols drawn from the public sphere and wrote a book using only these signs. Mar 12, 2020 is xu bing referencing manipulation during mao zedongs reign. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. From eslite gallery, xu bing, book from the ground 2012, print, 50. Xu bing has been undertaking his book from the ground project since 2003. Xu bing following his classic work book from the sky, the chinese artist xu bing presents a new graphic novelone composed entirely of symbols and icons that are universally understood.
Jul 20, 2011 heres how xu bing describes the origins of the project on its associated web site. This companion volume to book from the ground chronicles the entire project. Its fascinating, though, because symbols have traditionally been quite arbitrary, but in this case they generally are clear in their meaning. Cfcca manchester is currently showing xu bings book from the ground, a novel written in a universal language of icons, alongside a recreation of the artists studio.
See available prints and multiples, works on paper, and installation for sale and learn about the artist. For most critics and scholars, however, book from the sky is a clever contradiction and manifestation of xu bings long preoccupation with text and language. Inspired by airport signs that communicate instantaneously through images. Xu bing now developes this book into a popup book, making this universally readable book more playful and amusing. Although the pictogramonly narrative in xu bing s book from the ground can be read by anyone, there is much more to the story of xu bing s wordless book than can be gleaned from icons alone. There are no words on the stark blackandwhite cover of xu bing s book from the ground. Emojis, pictos and others little symbols are so pleasant for me ill publish some posts on my blog only in emojis talk very soon be ready. From point to point, part of xu bings wider project book from the ground, is a 112page novel depicting 24 hours in the life of an ordinary office worker, mr black, from seven one morning to seven the next, as he wakes, eats breakfast, goes to work, meets friends, looks for love online and goes out on a date. Whether his goal is total comprehension or confusion, xu bings masterful exploration of language challenges the way we think about the written word. From pointtopoint, the tale recounts twentyfour hours in the life of a young whitecollar worker in a major metropolis.
Book from the sky 1987 made up of 4,000 handcarved and printed characters, book from the sky remains xu bing s most iconic work to date. Its absurd that such an elaborate text cant be read, making the books and scrolls meaningless to the reader. Book from the ground, a book composed entirely of symbols and icons, is an account of twentyfour hours in the busy but witty life of mr. In book from the sky 198791, xu filled a gallery with scrolls and books handprinted with 4,000 false chinese charactersa stunning commentary on the subjectivity of language and its meaning. Using simple pictograms, currently in popular and public usage across the world, his. The book, which consists of four volumes totaling 604 pages, was printed in a. Xu bing, the renowned chinese artist whose many laurels include a. This companion volume to book from the ground chronicles the entire project, mapping the. Find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. After creating a book no one could read, it only made sense for xu bing to develop his next project. Always a pioneer, artist xu bing now takes the novel beyond the. Even so, this work challenges our very approach to language because of the unique nature of the text written on the paper. Dec 19, 2012 book from the ground book from the ground 2003present continues xu bings longstanding investigation of language.
The book about xu bings book from the ground mit press. Book from the sky to book from the ground xu bing on. Xu bing is a chineseborn artist who lived in the united states for eighteen years. From eslite gallery, xu bing, book from the ground. Now, after years creating art that explores, and upends, the power of the written word, xu bing has authored a novella, which was published in early summer. Xu bing was born in chongqing, in the newlyformed communist peoples republic of china, in 1955. Thirty years later, with book from the ground, the artist expresses his hope for a single, universally understood language. Find an indepth biography, exhibitions, original artworks for sale, the latest news, and sold auction prices. Xu bingfollowing his classic work book from the sky, the chinese artist xu bing presents a new graphic novelone composed entirely of symbols and icons that are universally understood.
The first name is pronounced very, very roughly like shoe. Composed entirely of pictographs, book from the ground is a groundbreaking study into the concept of universal communication. The main book is the white one called book from the ground. Xu bing s most popular book is book from the ground.
For the recurring section my eight, in which artists describe 8 of their favorite things, xu bing has chosen to provide some background on 8 of his favorite synthesized icons from his wideranging iconolinguistic project that combines image recognition. This companion volume to book from the ground chronicles the entire project, mapping the history of xu bing s novel creation from inspiration to exhibition to publication. Xu bing, the renowned chinese artist whose many laurels include a macarthur foundation genius award and an appointment as vice president of chinas central academy of fine arts, has long demonstrated a fascination with the written word. From point to point the mit press by xu, bing isbn.
Twenty years ago i made book from the sky, a book of illegible chinese characters that no one could read. Xu bing s tianshu book from the sky is a large installation featuring precisely laid out rows of books and hanging scrolls with written chinese texts. Xu bing s book from the ground ill get around to the explanation in a minute, but the main thing i wanted to do in this post is to quote the first paragraph of an avantgarde novelinprogress, the book from the ground, by the contemporary artist xu bing. Installation of books and scrolls printed from carved wood types of invented characters, ink on paper, dimensions variable. The third of five children, he spent his childhood years growing up in beijing, where his parents moved to work at peking university when he was two years old. From to front and back covers, 2012 print on paper each.
Xu bing following his classic work book from the sky, the chinese artist xu bing presents a new graphic novel one composed entirely of symbols and icons that are universally understood. The participatory installation recreates the artists studio space in. From point to point is a book composed entirely of symbols and icons by worldrenowned chinese artist xu bing. This companion volume to book from the ground chronicles the entire project, mapping the history of xu bing s novel creation. The book about xu bings book from the ground book, 2014. The book is written such that any reader, regardless of cultural background or level of education, can read it. Although the pictogramonly narrative in xu bing s book from the ground can be read by anyone, there is much more to the story of xu bing s wordless book. Always a pioneer, artist xu bing now takes the novel beyond. May 01, 2012 now i have created book from the ground, a book that anyone can read. For the book fom the ground installation, xu bing recreated his studios working environment and brought some materials to the exhibition space, implying that this. The second book written in characters similar to the emojis is book from the ground by xu bing. Although the pictogramonly narrative in xu bings book from the ground can be read by anyone, there is much more to the story of xu bings wordless book than can be gleaned from icons alone. Book from the sky with painstaking attention to traditional methods of printing and.
Subvert culture with chinese characters by zhihui yu abstract although the use of chinese language in art work is prevalent in much contemporary art, the chinese language is worth more and more focus and attention at this moment. In 2012, he published book from the ground, an oppositional treatise from book from the sky 1987, instead of a book that nobody could read, xu bing created a book for everyone. Now i have created book from the ground, a book that anyone can read. The creation of xu bing s book from the ground documented and described in text, images, and photographs. At first glance, and to anyone who cannot read chinese script, the pages appear simply as an elegant example of traditional chinese calligraphy, evoking the richness and sophistication of chinas long literary history. Xu bing is a contemporary chinese installation artist and one of chinas bestknown creative figures. Using garbled and nonsensical fauxchinese characters, this installation expressed xus doubts about written language and provoked questions about the chinese language. The book is written in a way that any reader, regardless of his or her cultural or educational background, can understand. Pdf this is a museum brochure concerning xu bings artists book projects. Only by being willing to adapt can the novel live up to the promise of its name. The result is a readable story without words, an account of twentyfour hours in the life of mr. Visuality and translation in contemporary chinese literary.
This installation comprises a set of 4 handprinted books, as well as wall and ceiling scrolls printed in the style of a wood letterpress. All collected from our contemporary society, these symbols are legible to anyone, regardless of their nationality, language, race, or age. A book without words, recounting a day in the life of an office worker, told completely in the symbols, icons, and logos of modern life. From point to point, by xu bing and the book about xu bings book from the ground, edited by mathieu borysevicz. This article examines two works by contemporary chinese artist xu bing.
The book about xu bings book from the ground by mathieu. The creation of xu bings book from the ground documented and described in text, images, and photographs. Although the pictogramonly narrative in xu bing s book from the ground can be read by anyone, there is much more to the story of xu bing s wordless book than can be. Jul 27, 2017 3 books written entirely in emojis can you read them.