ZHANGZHIQI STUDIO

Thousand armed Bodhisattva: Selected Plays by Zhang Jigang

Book Design | 2021 | Zhangzhiqi

This book is a compilation of works by choreographer and director Zhang Jigang. The covers resemble an old-fashioned plastic shell notebook. Its black colour is a reminder of the gravitas and tranquillity of theatres. Aiming for an informative, academic and immersive impression, the photos, performance stills and behind-the-scene content are arranged in chronological order with artistic interludes. The visual tone is based on four colours with a black undertone. The completely blank double page spread and black ones represent light and shadows central to stage lighting. Performance stills are enhanced by vibrant colours to mimic the use of colour in stage lighting and the solemnness of the background. By contrast, photos of rehearsals and filed trips are printed in black and white. Scattered blocks of texts add movement and liveliness to the pages like monologues, narrations, lyrics, and off-screen voices in a script. The book is put in a case with a texture of rough stones, which implies that scripts, like jade, need constant cutting and polishing. The book is moderate in size，which can make readers focus on the content, be moved by its nostalgic feelings and the magic of dance dramas.