The result is a readable story without words, an account of twentyfour hours in the life of mr. The book is written in a way that any reader, regardless of his or her cultural or educational background, can understand. To touch the written word is to touch the essence of culture. Xu bingfollowing his classic work book from the sky, the chinese artist xu bing. 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. The design of the carpet is similar in concept to hui sus former qin dynasty creation the xuan ji tu. From eslite gallery, xu bing, book from the ground 2012, print, 50.
Using garbled and nonsensical fauxchinese characters, this installation expressed xu s doubts about written language and provoked questions about the chinese language. Xu bing has 14 books on goodreads with 1194 ratings. Book from the ground popup book 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. Xu bing is an internationally acclaimed artist whose work has been shown and collected by museums and galleries including the national art museum of china. 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. This companion volume to book from the ground chronicles the entire project, mapping the. Monograph focusing on xu bing s most ambitious works of art. 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.
The exhibition combines important pieces from the artists earlier projects at duke university in north carolina and the shanghai gallery of art in china with new work inspired by visits to tobacco farms, warehouses, and cigarette factories. 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. Lynn xu mentioned her time as an assistant to xu bing and a little about his sky book. Feb 07, 2014 xu bing spent seven years gathering materials, experimenting, revising, and arranging thousands of pictograms to construct the narrative of book from the ground. The artist first compiled symbols drawn from the public sphere and wrote a book. Its almost like egyptian hieroglyphics, a puzzle where you have to figure out the story. Xu bing s studio also made a character database software that corresponds to the language of the book. Chinese printmaker xu bing is a teacher at beijings prestigious central academy of fine arts and a respected practitioner of the official social realist style.
About the book about xu bing s book from the ground. 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. Currently residing in beijing, he used to serve as the vicepresident of the central academy of fine arts. The main book is the white one called book from the ground. The artist first compiled symbols drawn from the public sphere and wrote a book using only these signs.
Farewell our globalism, xu bing and the guggenheim, books on books, 9 december 2017. Cfcca manchester is currently showing xu bings book from the ground, a novel written in a universal language of icons, alongside a. Book from the ground is not xu s first project to contemplate language and writing. Okay, more a work of experimental art and the story is, well, meh. 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. 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 fascinating, though, because symbols have traditionally been quite arbitrary, but in this case they generally are clear in their meaning. This companion volume to book from the ground chronicles the entire project.
After creating a book no one could read, it only made sense for xu bing to develop his next project. Book from the sky to book from the ground bing, xu on. 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. Oct 21, 2020 monograph focusing on xu bing s most ambitious works of art. He is known for his printmaking skills and installation art, as well as his creative artistic use of language, words, and text and how. Beautifully realized by mit press, the book is at once daunting and completely accessible. Xu bing, as is the acknowledgment of the demanding skills and years of practice needed to achieve literacy and a mastery of calligraphy. The book about xu bings book from the ground mit press 9780262027427. Tobacco project explores the production and culture of tobacco as seen through the eyes of one of chinas most innovative contemporary artists. Not only did i order a copy of the art of xu bing, but i preordered book for the groud. A page of book from the ground, which narrates a day in the life of an office worker xu bing. The creation of xu bing s book from the ground documented and described in text, images, and photographs. Xu bing spent seven years gathering materials, experimenting, revising, and arranging thousands of pictograms to construct the narrative of book from the ground.
The book, which consists of four volumes totaling 604 pages, was printed in a. Twenty years ago i made book from the sky, a book of illegible chinese characters that no one could read. Book from the sky to book from the ground by xu bing 2020, books on books collection, 21 january 2021. Book from the sky, a monumental installation by celebrated chinese artist xu bing. 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.
Thirty years later, with book from the ground, the artist expresses his hope for a single, universally understood language. Carving out approximately four thousand wood blocks by hand, xu bing spent four years, from 1987 to 1991, making in his own words something that said nothing. 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. 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. 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 than can be gleaned from icons alone. 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.
From point to point is a book composed entirely of symbols and icons by worldrenowned chinese artist xu bing. Product information monograph focusing on xu bing s most ambitious works of art. 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 is a neverending project in progress. Buy book from the ground from point to point the mit press. Book from the ground, until 28 february, centre for chinese contemporary art, thomas street, manchester, m4 1eu. 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.
Book from the sky to book from the ground by xu bing. Now i have created book from the ground, a book that anyone can read. Xu bing is a chineseborn artist who lived in the united states for eighteen years. The creation of xu bings book from the ground documented and described in text, images, and photographs. 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. 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. Buy book from the ground by bing xu from waterstones today. Xu bings book from the ground is composed entirely of symbols, emojis, emoticons, whatever you want to call them.
Always a pioneer, artist xu bing now takes the novel beyond. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. For the first singapore biennale, xu bing created a prayer carpet for the kwanim temple, the largest buddhist temple in singapore. What do you see an art puzzle book of american and chinese songs, and book from the ground.
From the analects of confucius to quotations from chairman. Appreciating xu bing, books on books, 31 december 2018. Xu bing publicly exhibited book from the sky for the first time in 1988 at the china art gallery now national art museum of china 1 in beijing. He is known for his printmaking skills and installation art, as well as his creative artistic use of language, words, and text and how they have affected our understanding of the world. In 1620 hui su created a grid of 841 characters that can be read in any number of directions and combinations.
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. Its also a statement about literacy and the plasticity of human communication. The book about xu bings book from the ground the mit press. Xu bing following his classic work book from the sky, the chinese artist xu bing. 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. Dec 05, 2012 xu bing is sort of exploring the relationship between signs and meaning. Whats interesting is theres a story thats told through a series of symbols. As the curator marta millet moreno says, xu s interest in language and 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. Composed entirely of pictographs, book from the ground is a groundbreaking study into the concept of universal communication. Xu bing s most popular book is book from the ground. 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. Xu bing s book from the ground is composed entirely of symbols, emojis, emoticons, whatever you want to call them. 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. Jun 19, 2016 june 19, 2016 january 22, 2017 the blanton museum of art at the university of texas at austin presents xu bing. Xu bing has been undertaking his book from the ground project since 2003. Always a pioneer, artist xu bing now takes the novel. Xu bing now developes this book into a popup book, making this universally readable book more playful and amusing. 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. Jun 01, 2020 xu bing has been undertaking his book from the ground project since 2003. Britta erickson, xu bing, yin xiuzhen, xing danwen, qiu zhijie, yan lei, zhou tiehai, zhang hongtu, sui jianguo, zhang huan, huang yong ping, hong hao.
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