[Fish 2/3]
Reimagining Chinese rainbow calligraphy evolved into a process-driven exploration of unconventional writing tools connected to fish.
We built a glossary of typographic strokes based on the fundamental strokes of Chinese characters and the stroke modularity of Latin alphabets â systemizing the stroke expression that shaped by unconventional writing tools.
@louieleewy experimented with parts of fish* as writing tools, such as fins, tails, scales, bones â while
@l_hsin_y explore using vegetables and herbs commonly found in fish cuisine, such as dried mushrooms, limes, lemongrass, etc. Beyond gestural mark-making, we also explored stamping and printmaking techniques to generate repetitive patterns.
From this stroke library, the Chinese lettering was composed following principles of Chinese calligraphy, while the Malay lettering utilised the same elements arranged into patterns inspired by local weaving traditions.
* No fishes or vegetables were harmed during the design process. All ingredients were responsibly sourced from the local wet market.
-
Creative Direction:
@eyeballmassage
Ideation & Lettering Design:
@suehlili ,
@l_hsin_y &
@louieleewy
Silkscreen Printing:
@studio_bogus
#lettering #bilingual #typography #chineserainbowcalligraphy
![[Custom type] A collaboration with @studiokekfeng.Ceria is a custom typeface designed for BAS.MY, a national public bus service introduced by Malaysiaâs Ministry of Transport. The brief called for a functional yet warm typeface, created with mobility and connectivity in mind.The design draws from the neo-grotesque tradition of Akzidenz-Grotesk and Helvetica, reinterpreted through subtle local nuances and a restrained humanistic sensibility. The family includes Regular and Bold, designed primarily for wayfinding signage and route maps..Creative Direction: @studiokekfengType Design: @suehlili & @louieleewyMotion: @j.hlim#customtype #malaysia #publicbus #typedesign #typography #bas.my #hrftypework #transport](https://sp1.picnob.com/p/pt_6727297048583573204463_0_be3f22552ec84e2f1b2727124d8ca173.jpg?o=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&h=be6e771ab747166ce308bdba7ea1731f)
![[Fish 3/3]As a tribute to the source of inspiration, the series of posters was then applied in selected local wet markets and Chinese restaurants that were established in the 80s. We collaborated with photographer @alvinlaukb to reimagine the juxtaposition of this contemporary interpretation of Chinese rainbow calligraphy within the existing visual aesthetic of everyday social spaces through conceptual photography.-Photography by @alvinlaukb](https://sp1.picnob.com/p/pt_6742672830286673293334_0_9b8d8279561bf5831a895fdc880c43a8.jpg?o=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&h=7196310e6977461e9a388b2e1f4f7c6d)
![[Fish 2/3]Reimagining Chinese rainbow calligraphy evolved into a process-driven exploration of unconventional writing tools connected to fish.We built a glossary of typographic strokes based on the fundamental strokes of Chinese characters and the stroke modularity of Latin alphabets â systemizing the stroke expression that shaped by unconventional writing tools.@louieleewy experimented with parts of fish* as writing tools, such as fins, tails, scales, bones â while @l_hsin_y explore using vegetables and herbs commonly found in fish cuisine, such as dried mushrooms, limes, lemongrass, etc. Beyond gestural mark-making, we also explored stamping and printmaking techniques to generate repetitive patterns.From this stroke library, the Chinese lettering was composed following principles of Chinese calligraphy, while the Malay lettering utilised the same elements arranged into patterns inspired by local weaving traditions.* No fishes or vegetables were harmed during the design process. All ingredients were responsibly sourced from the local wet market.-Creative Direction: @eyeballmassageIdeation & Lettering Design: @suehlili , @l_hsin_y & @louieleewySilkscreen Printing: @studio_bogus#lettering #bilingual #typography #chineserainbowcalligraphy](https://sp1.picnob.com/p/pt_6742672729711373501511_0_4d9e9d8df7968b88bcd78767c003b156.jpg?o=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&h=a4bcb5f297046ecae95c9203eb5f992b)
![[Fish 1/3]âThere Will Always Be Fish ĺš´ĺš´ćé Tahun-tahun Ada Ikanâ is a collaboration with visual artist @eyeballmassage in conjunction with his solo exhibition âThe World is Your Restaurant ä¸ç大é
ć¨â (2021), which drew from the visual culture of 1970sâ80s Malaysian Chinese restaurants and his youth memories of banquet dining â where food, especially fish subtly reflected social status and local dining culture.The brief invited us to reimagine Chinese rainbow calligraphy (čąéłĽĺ) through the names of ten prized restaurant fishes, presented in Chinese and Malay. We explored its contemporary application within the visual aesthetics of local Chinese restaurants while nodding to the itinerant rainbow calligraphers of the 90s.Chinese rainbow calligraphy is a writing system that typically features floral, fauna, and mythological symbols applied in gradient brush strokes to form Chinese characters. Traditionally, it is used for auspicious phrases, motivational idioms, or personal names.The outcome is a series of bilingual silkscreen posters featuring the ten fishes.âMore info about the exhibition at @thebackroomkl :-/2021/hoofanchonworldrestaurantâThere Will Always Be Fish ĺš´ĺš´ćé Tahun-tahun Ada IkanSilkscreen posters: 297 x 420mmâCreative Direction: @eyeballmassageLettering Design: @suehlili , @l_hsin_y & @louieleewySilkscreen Printing: @studio_bogus#lettering #bilingual #typography #chineserainbowcalligraphy](https://sp1.picnob.com/p/pt_6742673973266073424429_0_676035ef48b5eef578ef925676d524f2.jpg?o=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&h=a5da486fe05d02d237157e51d786ea5f)
