I am a Chinese graphic designer interested in linguistics—specifically the communication or transmission of meaning through written language. I have developed an investigative and authorial graphic design practice, taking in the creative process of; hand-lettering, typography, concrete poetry, illustration & printmaking. Throughout my study at GSA, I have investigated the intersection of illustration and text/type as image, exploring how structure, composition, line, and mark-making can influence or affect the communication of a specific concept or message. I have been influenced by the contemporary Chinese internet environment and the rise in popularity of internet memes and word games to communicate with my friends — exploring the potential of concrete poetry to communicate the value of this so-called “Nonsense Literature”.

Project Statement

“We’ll know the day after tomorrow about tomorrow.” “Conversing with a wise person is like listening to the words.” These sentences seem to say something — yet say nothing. Collected under the label “nonsense literature”, these types of word memes are shared across the contemporary Chinese internet environment. This project aims to explore and respond to this nonsense literature, critically analysing its perceived value. The work examines resistance and rebellion as the roots of nonsense literature. Alongside, I embrace the spirit of humour in creation, and interactive publications infuse the game’s spirit into my project. Chinese internet memes have a certain degree of untranslatability; any attempted translation into a different language is an interpretation — providing the foundation for my development a new visual language.

The Ultimate Visual Showcase for Nonsense Literature Publication Video Link：https://vimeo.com/741706319/9091d51e62