ZhuZi Art: A Fusion of Tradition and Modernity

Xi Alice Zong's Award-Winning Book Design Celebrates Chinese Calligraphy and Painting

The inspiration for ZhuZi Art came from the rich history and elegant techniques of traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy. Zong's design approach involved the use of abstract shapes, colors, and lines to create a consistent sensuality and highlight the blank space in the sketch. This design strategy effortlessly coincides with the styles of artists in traditional painting and calligraphy.

Creating this collection was a meticulous process. Zong conducted extensive research on traditional Chinese calligraphy and painting and interviewed each artist whose works were to be featured in the books. The layout of the books was done in Adobe InDesign, with photography and applications made using Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom CC.

The challenge of the project was to maintain the authenticity of the traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy while creating a visually pleasing modern design layout. To achieve this balance, Zong collected opinions and suggestions from calligraphers and Chinese painters after several draft options and finally came up with a design that blended both styles well.

The ZhuZi Art collection comprises four book editions, each made out of a combination of traditional Chinese elements. The result is a unique, delicate Chinese style of impressionistic design that exudes exquisite elegance and the luxuriant cultural implications of China. The first edition was started in February 2019 in both China and the U.S. and was completed in May 2019. All four editions were published by ZHUZI Art Center.

Xi Alice Zong's ZhuZi Art is a testament to the timeless beauty of traditional Chinese art forms and the possibilities of modern design. It is a celebration of the past, present, and future of Chinese art, encapsulated in a series of beautifully designed books. This collection is not just a tribute to Chinese culture but also a testament to the power of design in bridging the gap between tradition and modernity.