This is a project about the Five Elements in Taoism philosophy. In Taoism, the Five Elements refer to the substances of gold(metal), wood, water, fire, earth. The ancient Chinese philosopher explained the formation of all matters on the world, and their relationships with the five element theory. This theory focuses on "integrity", describing the movement and transformation of things. Yin and Yang is an ancient doctrine of the unity of opposites, and the five elements is the original general Systematology.
Not only in Eastern philosophy, in the west we have the very famous Plato's Solids, which are combined of Tetrahedron, Hexahedron,Octahedron, Dodecahedron, Icosahedron, corresponding to the five planets: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, while they symbolize the same as the Five Elements.
In this hand made book, all the five elements, both from Taoism and Plato's solids are manifested with all traditionally hand made paper by me, and different techniques are used here to visualize the concept.
cover: Plato's solids in Chinese Calligraphy ink
second cover: Chinese calligraphy(characters for the Five Elements) in black ink on black abbaca translucent paper
P1: Earth (abbaca translucent paper white, Chinese calligraphy ink, gold ink)
p2: water (black abbaca translucent paper, gold ink)
p3: metal (gold): translucent abbaca paper, Kozo paper, gold ink, copper plate and oxidized copper plate, Chinese calligraphy painting inclusion
p4: Fire (abbaca translucent paper, old book pages fired a hole in the middle inclusion, abbaca black paper)
p5: Wood (flowers, wood, Chinese traditional ink, abbaca paper, Kozo paper)
p6: center of the universe | the explosion. (rust print from iron plate on black abbaca paper)
the aftermath
watermarks are created in making the paper in the form of river/ creek.
black calligraphy ink on black paper
rust casting from an iron plate
copper plates are included in the process of making paper
different color for different depth of earth.
flowers are included in the process of making paper.
Thank you for watching the Five Elements Artists' Book Project!
