The Mountain Where I Once Lived
Author╱張修智 Zhang Xiu Zhi
Design╱曦成製本 Hei Shing Book Design
Size╱140mm(w) x 200mm(h)
Cover Paper╱Heiwa Paper - Neenah Printable Blotter 270g White Vellum Finish
Publisher╱三聯書店 Joint Publishing
Year╱2018
Design╱曦成製本 Hei Shing Book Design
Size╱140mm(w) x 200mm(h)
Cover Paper╱Heiwa Paper - Neenah Printable Blotter 270g White Vellum Finish
Publisher╱三聯書店 Joint Publishing
Year╱2018
He uncovered a Hong Kong where still waters run deep. – Waitong Liu, Hong Kong writer
The book’s poetic title, The Mountain Where I Once Lived, is an expression of how much the author cherishes Hong Kong. The expression originates from a proverb in the Buddhist scriptures. The parrot once lived in harmony with other animals on a mountain. After the parrot left, a fire broke out on the mountain. The parrot still helped to put out the fire with whatever little water it could carry. When asked why, the parrot answered, ‘It is the mountain where I once lived, so I can’t bear seeing it going up in flames’.
The design of the book cover is inspired by the proverb behind the book title. Against the background of a green and unending mountain range, birds take to the sky. A page from a writing pad invokes both writing and the writer. Simplicity and poetry dominate the overall visual composition. The mountain range also extends to the fore edge of the book. When the pages are pushed to the right, a hazy mountain scenery appears.
A modified semi-bold Ming typeface is chosen for the title. The serif has been made more round, and between different strokes of a Chinese character, delicate lines suggesting crawling mountain plants are drawn to link the strokes together and add visual interest to the type. A Chinese type resembling the regular script, which is commonly used for literary works, is gently displayed on the half jacket.
