River Snow. Anthology of Ancient Chinese poetry

Anthology of Ancient Chinese poetry was initially planned to be set in original Chinese text and the Latvian translation. One of the main tasks when developing the design of this book was to create a modern edition that follows the logic of a European book, but at the same time to include various elements related to Oriental aesthetics. Therefore, the arrangement of hieroglyphs was also subjected to the contemporary Chinese arrangement form — in lines, not columns — so that it better correlates with the vertical rhythm of the Latvian translation, while maintaining all hieroglyphic peculiarities, and also its readability and density. One of the main themes of this edition of poems is the unity of man with nature, enjoying its subtle emotional states and vibes. Therefore, only natural materials were chosen for the design of the book, including recycled paper fibers and agricultural waste. For example, grape pomace was added to the paper from which the endpapers and cover stickers were made. The paper for the inner pages, despite its thickness, is slightly transparent, which reinforces its similarity to Chinese calligraphy papers. The terracotta cover, together with the same-toned second ink in the inside pages and the bookmark ribbon, creates a strong and unified image of the publication. In turn, the debossing of the cover surface and the paper label give the book a monumental appearance. The unevenness of the cover color creates the feeling as if the terracotta plate with hieroglyphs has been slightly covered with the first vague snowflakes.