Xu bing s most popular book is book from the ground. Xu bing spent seven years gathering materials, experimenting, revising, and arranging thousands of pictograms to construct the narrative of book from the ground. Spencer museum of art, university of kansas, lawrence, kansas, usa. A page of book from the ground, which narrates a day in the life of an office worker xu bing. This companion volume to book from the ground chronicles the entire project, mapping the history of xu bing s novel creation from inspiration to. May 01, 2012 xu bing s book from the ground is composed entirely of symbols, emojis, emoticons, whatever you want to call them. 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. But its a lot of fun to translate without help although if you need it, try the book about xu bings book from the ground. Book from the sky to book from the ground by xu bing. Xu bings book from the ground is composed entirely of symbols, emojis, emoticons, whatever you want to call them. Icon stories home emojis come into the esl classroom. Whether his goal is total comprehension or confusion, xu bing s masterful exploration of language challenges the way we think about the written word.
A book without words, recounting a day in the life of an office worker, told completely in the symbols, icons, and logos of. Always a pioneer, artist xu bing now takes the novel beyond. Book from the sky and book from the ground presents the artists method and motivation in his own words an accessible yet academic insight into this innovative chinese artist the written word is the most basic element of human culture. The result is a readable story without words, an account of twentyfour hours in the life of mr. Dec 05, 2012 xu bing is sort of exploring the relationship between signs and meaning. From eslite gallery, xu bing, book from the ground.
Even so, this work challenges our very approach to language because of the unique nature of the text written on the paper. Book from the sky to book from the ground by bing, xu paperback 1 xu bing. Its an intellectual exercise, a puzzle, an experiment, a work of art, a lesson in typographic style and a story all in one. Monograph focusing on xu bing s most ambitious works of art. Oct 21, 2020 monograph focusing on xu bing s most ambitious works of art. The book is written in a way that any reader, regardless of his or her cultural or. Book from the ground by xu bing is an innovation in narrative art. After creating a book no one could read, it only made sense for xu bing to develop his next project. 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. Its fascinating, though, because symbols have traditionally been quite arbitrary, but in this case they generally are clear in their meaning. About the book about xu bing s 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. 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.
K11 and bankmabsociety join hands to present hong kongs first book from the ground concept store by xu bing, an art installation cum design store. 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. Thirty years later, with book from the ground, the artist expresses his hope for a single, universally understood language. As the curator marta millet moreno says, xu s interest in language and texts. Read download book from the ground pdf pdf download. This exhibition showcases a selection of xu bing s most important works including art for the people, book from the sky, book from the ground, square word calligraphy, background story, and the character of characters. Xu bing has been undertaking his book from the ground project since 2003. From eslite gallery, xu bing, book from the ground 2012, print, 50. Xu bing spent seven years gathering materials, experimenting, revising, and arranging thousands of pictograms to construct the narrative of book. The book from the ground our source of inspiration excerpt from the book from the ground by xu bing. From point to point is a book composed entirely of symbols and icons by worldrenowned chinese artist xu bing.
While the book can be translated into words as you read ityou can tell the story to yourself, the pictographic nature of it allows. What do you see an art puzzle book of american and chinese songs, and book from the ground. The artist first compiled symbols drawn from the public sphere and. 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. Its also a statement about literacy and the plasticity of human communication. Asia art archive hong kong, china us libraries through. Collections the book about xu bings book from the ground. Since 2008, bing has experimented with increasingly less traditional methods and materials of communication. To touch the written word is to touch the essence of culture. Always a pioneer, artist xu bing now takes the novel. Book from the sky to book from the ground, hardcover by bing, xu, l. Jun 01, 2020 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. He is most known for his printmaking skills and installations pieces, as well as his creative artistic use of language, words, and text and how they have. 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. The creation of xu bing s book from the ground documented and described in text, images, and photographs. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. Oct 30, 2018 xu bing spent seven years gathering materials, experimenting, revising, and arranging thousands of pictograms to construct the narrative of book from the ground. 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. 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. 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. Okay, more a work of experimental art and the story is, well, meh. Book from the sky and book from the ground presents the artists method and motivation in his own words an accessible yet academic insight into this innovative internationally renowned chinese artist the written word is the most basic element of human culture. Whether his goal is total comprehension or confusion, xu bings masterful exploration of language challenges the way we think about the written word. The book about xu bings book from the ground by mathieu.
But its a lot of fun to translate without help although if you need it, try the book about xu bings book from the ground by mathieu borysevicz. Currently residing in beijing, he used to serve as the vicepresident of the central academy of fine arts. Book from the ground from point to point the mit press. 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.
Xu bing is a chineseborn artist who lived in the united states for eighteen years. Using garbled and nonsensical fauxchinese characters, this installation expressed xu s doubts about written language and provoked questions about the chinese language. The book about xu bings book from the ground the mit press. Dec 01, 2020 xu bing spent seven years gathering materials, experimenting, revising, and arranging thousands of pictograms to construct the narrative of book from the ground. 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. Xu bing has 14 books on goodreads with 1194 ratings. Buy book from the ground by bing xu from waterstones today. Always a pioneer, artist xu bing now takes the novel beyond the. Book from the ground from point to point the mit press xu, bing isbn. Following his classic work book from the sky, the chinese artist xu bing presents a new graphic novel. 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. The artist first compiled symbols drawn from the public sphere and wrote a book using only these signs. Just as book from the sky was signs divorced from sense, this is more about expressing sense with a system of signs so primitive it requires only the cultural and linguistic knowledge rather than prior knowledge of a particular writing system of englishspeakers to. Now i have created book from the ground, a book that anyone can read.
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. Mathieu borysevicz book about xu bing s book from the ground mit press, 2014 an introduction to square word calligraphy. Book from the ground, until 28 february, centre for chinese contemporary art, thomas street, manchester, m4 1eu. But its a lot of fun to translate without help although if you need it, try the book about xu bing s book from the ground by mathieu borysevicz. He is known for his printmaking skills and installation art, as well as his creative artistic use of language, words, and text and how.
This publication is produced by xu bing to coincide with his solo exhibition book from the ground, held at shanghai gallery of art, 21 april 29 may 2012. K11 art mall debuts hong kongs first book from the ground. The result is a readable story without words, an account of twentyfour. Book from the ground mit press by bing xu paperback. In 2014, the chinese artist xu bing published a new type of book. Mit press, 20 xu s website covers the original and movable versions. From point to point the mit press by xu, bing isbn. Pioneering chinese contemporary artist xu bing creates powerful, poignant mixedmedia installations, in which he subverts systems. Book from the ground is not xu s first project to contemplate language and writing. 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 spent seven years gathering materials, experimenting, revising, and arranging thousands of pictograms to construct this narrative that can be read by anyone with experience in contemporary life. An art puzzle book of american and chinese songs, and book from the ground.
Twenty years ago i made book from the sky, a book of illegible chinese characters that no one could read. 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 his groundbreaking work, book from the sky, looked like chinese calligraphy, but. Composed entirely of pictographs, book from the ground is a groundbreaking study into the concept of universal communication. While this book might turn off readers looking to escape into a more conventional narrative, anyone. From point to point, paperback by xu, bing, isbn 0262536226, isbn 9780262536226, brand new, free shipping in the us 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.
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