The overall design of the “FUN” bookshop in the lobby of Xinqiao Hotel revolves around the artworks "Flow Book" and "Literal Radicals." An enlarged ‘lamp’ crafted from fibrous materials enhances the immersive experience of the space.
Song poetry, a pinnacle of Song literature, is as renowned as Tang poetry and the opera of the Yuan Dynasty. The symbolic names from Song poems serve as one of the key inspirations for this installation. The surrounding books appear to flow like water, misty like clouds, inviting readers to look up and discover the hidden symbolic names of Song poetry within them. These names seem to intertwine with time and space. In the memory of Jiangnan, the region south of the Yangtze River, the old city of Hangzhou is the most memorable place. There is a saying: "Fair Southern shore, with scenes I adore." The circular arrangement of the bookshelves evokes the ripples of water, reflecting the Song poetry line "Rippling water shimmering on a sunny day." By the West Lake, one can experience the charm of the Song Dynasty, enjoy the beauty of the southern Yangtze region, pick up a favorite book, and sip a pot of Longjing tea.
The purpose of the "Flow Book" art installation is to provide the "FUN" bookshop with a unique space in the lobby of Xinqiao Hotel. It is an elegant, large-scale architectural structure suspended from the ceiling, created using hundreds of paper items, carefully constructed into various ribbon-like forms. These elements, when joined together, evoke the image of a wave flowing through the space. The use of light within this "flow" enhances the installation’s transparency, offering viewers a dynamic visual experience. The assembly consists of a single material: large sheets of paper, which float like ribbons in the space. Incorporated into the design are silhouettes of Chinese characters and abstract forms, adding depth and meaning to the installation.
When light interacts with the colors of the installation, it creates a playful effect on the floor and a mirrored reflection on the ceiling of the lobby, which is adorned with books. The art installation invites visitors to engage in an abstract interpretation of the art, music, and literary traditions associated with the concept of the bookshop.
