靈魂的顏色 | The Soul’s Colour

Twelve Chinese Zodiac Porcelain vases on a traditional Chinese Shelf.

靈魂的顏色

THE SOUL'S COLOUR

‘Home is where the heart is’ - Pliny the Elder

Lunar New Year is an important and special time for many families annually.

It is a time of gathering, love, joy and appreciating each other’s presence.

But this year, it looks and feels a little different.

For those who are unable to return home to visit family and friends.

For those who are longing and feeling homesick.

This one is for you.

THE CONCEPT

‘靈魂的顏色’ (The Soul’s Colour) is a contemporary digital interpretation of the traditional cobalt blue and white porcelain that gained immense popularity during the late Yuan dynasty. Although this artistic style existed prior to this period, it was during this time that it truly developed into a mature, distinctive and culturally rich form - which later influenced many succeeding styles.

Featuring the twelve Chinese Zodiacs, each vase embodies the idea that home is not necessarily a physical place an individual is present in, but rather home is where your heart and soul is - somewhere within. As a personal take on cultural identity within the Western world, it integrates illustrative forms reflecting various landscapes in Asia (particularly China and Vietnam) with each Zodiac’s body. The Zodiacs are then placed within a landscape that is reflective of where they could live within the Western world - in this case Australia.

In Asia, Lunar New Year marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring. Flowers are symbolic of growth, life and good fortune. Special flowers commonly fill households during the new year to welcome spring and bring about various forms of luck and blessings. The vases, paired with selected flowers displayed during Lunar New Year and some Australian natives portrays the true essence of cultural identity and the notion of preparing one’s home for the new year.

For those who are unable to physically be with their families during this joyous celebration, ‘靈魂的顏色’ (The Soul’s Colour) provides the comfort and nostalgia of home and one’s ancestral roots. It could also be a personal gift of well wishes and good blessings to loved ones from individuals living in Australia.

THE ILLUSTRATIONS

The line work and gradients aim to mimic the fluid brushworks on traditional Chinese porcelain through a digital lens.

牛 (Ox)

虎 (Tiger)

兔 (Rabbit)

龍 (Dragon)

蛇 (Snake)

馬 (Horse)

羊 (Goat)

猴 (Monkey)

雞 (Rooster)

狗 (Dog)

豬 (Pig)

鼠 (Rat)

THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS

TRADITIONAL FLOWERS & AUSTRALIAN NATIVES

Selection of flowers traditionally displayed in households during Lunar New Year and Australian Natives that also portrays the themes of luck and blessings.

Mobile Wallpaper

Two series of mobile phone wallpapers featuring the twelve Chinese Zodiacs. One set features just the faces paired with the respective Chinese characters and the other elements from the habitats the zodiacs live in/could live in.

Faces and Chinese Character Version

Faces and Habitat Version

POSTCARDS & PACKAGING

THE SET
Each set of postcards features twelve Chinese Zodiac porcelain vases and comes with a set of metallic paper flowers that can be arrange in the vases as pleased. It could be used as a simple desk display or as a gift of good luck and blessings for the new year to loved ones.

LARGE POSTCARD SET

Large postcards set (Front)

Large postcards set (Metallic paper flower set & instructions)

SMALL POSTCARD SET

Small postcards set (Front)

Small postcards set (Metallic paper flower set & instructions)

SQUARE POSTCARD SET

Square postcards set (Front)

Square postcards set (Front and back)

Square postcards set (Metallic paper flower set & instructions)

THE POSTCARDS
Printed on a premium high gloss paper stock (front) with a smooth matte back, it mimics the glazed surface of traditional Chinese porcelain. On the back it features a time stamp with the year 2021 and the Year of the Ox; as well as some blank space for messages to be written on.

Example of Large size postcards with flower arrangements

THE PACKAGING

Inspired by the structures and forms of windows in Ancient Chinese Architecture, the packaging for the postcards is designed to frame the vases with a sense of balance and harmony. With a subtle nod to the notion of placing vases on a shelf near the window, the details of the packaging allows for a frame that works with any of the postcards in the set - should the set be used as a display.

As a separate entity, the slim box also features a little moment of delight when the fold is lifted from the seal that features the character '牛' (Ox). When lifted, a hidden ox is revealed. Viewed from both the front and back, it blends the space between looking from the inside out and looking from the outside in, at the vases and the hidden ox.

All sets packaging only (Front)

SPECIAL EDITION POSTCARD SET

The edition features each zodiac's face with elements from its natural habitat.

Special Edition postcards set (Front)

Special Edition postcards set (Front & back opened)

Special Edition postcards set (All postcards)

POSTERS & CALENDAR

Each Chinese Porcelain Vases Shelf Poster comes with a set of metallic paper flowers that can be arrange in the vases as pleased. It could be used as a simple wall display or as a calendar with the vases representing the twelve months in the year. Printed on a premium high gloss paper stock, it mimics the glazed surface of traditional Chinese porcelain.