Date of Premiere Issue : Summer 2002
Publishers : viction:design workshop
Design : Victor Cheung
Editor : viction:design workshop
Guest Editor : Walter Cheng
Dimensions : 10 1/2" (h) x 8 1/2" (w)
Frequency : N/A
Country of Origin : Hong Kong
Website : www.victionary.com
Statement
Flavour is the theme of the first issue of Victionary. It is a new publication emphasizing on the strength of collaborative efforts in the area of visual communication. Not only creating more perspectives for those who love design and visual graphics, it also aims at providing a channel for creative talents to share their truest spirits all over the world. Each issue will be based on a particular theme and presented in various forms.
This issue tries to explore the unique flavour and signature style in design through the usage of photography. It showcases various edgy artworks of the 44 top graphic designers and artists from around the world. With the above perspective in mind each of them has created some artworks that represent the personal taste ad style of their [personal taste and style]. For this reason, we have tried not to preoccupy our guests with our own preconception about flavour in the interviews (Artists Profiles).
Whenever possible, we will show this corresponding source photos of the final art piece in the Artists Profiles section. With the association between the source and the final work, we hope the intriguing plasticity of photography will manifest itself uniquely among the artists and through it, ignites your sense. In some cases, it is easier to see how much such plasticity functions and how it is developed in the daily design projects of the artists. In other cases, it is less apparent. It means a great deal to us if our readers enjoy the book and have tried exploring into the artists' work from our perspective.
The unpremeditated association between the visual flavour, and the interview feedback of each of the artists, unveils their creative thoughts. In the interviews, we will see a lot of surprising answers even when addressing the same question. Through it, we hope to integrate more ideas, thoughts and fantasies found in their daily life that are not design-conscious.
'Flavour' is simply a topic for my fellows to elaborate on. Simple it is, yet far from simplistic. The first image comes in my mind when thinking of 'Flavour' is a cake. Look closer, it is an American cheese cake. Given a [cake[, what has been constructed in your mind? Tiramisu? Black Forest? Mousse cake? Or, Cheesecake? (American, Gernam, or Italian...) You surely will have your own different picture in mind, but why and how come? You may not have thought 'flavour' consciously before but I am sure every one of us is immersed in the world of flavours. It is ubiquitous. The flavour of you and the flavours of people, things and thoughts...it is both the [sub]product and the ingredient of your life experience. It is evolving from time to time and is like an escalator going up and down, with which the changing of scenes always give it a new breath of life, moment by moment, frame by frame.
I walked by a cake shop and looked at the decent American cheesecake neatly arranged in the display fridge behind the window. My mind spoke to me the familiar taste of the delicious ones I had eaten before... The flavour, as I can recall remained the same. However, it was not the actual taste or smell of the cake that triggered the association with this memorized flavour. It was the visual stimulation by means of forms and colours that created the internal experience. To me, American cheesecake is just a cake and its flavour should be the same. However, to a professional baker, the [cake] is not a cake. It represents a part of his life. It does really matter whether it tastes good or not...
Dear friends, this is NOT just a piece of cake...from whatever perspective you see this collection.
Victor Cheung