Grass, Kim Su-young
Xianlu Yi


Kim su-yong is one of the most exceptional modern poets in Korea. He died at a relatively young age of 48 in 1968, but his poetry has become a symbol of freedom and revolution during the democratization of Korea. His last poem ‘Grass’, only published after his death, has provoked particular attention and debate amongst critics. Depending on the viewpoint of the literary figures and their political beliefs, the meaning and value of Kim’s poetry showed a great range of differing analysis. The populist grass-roots movement interpreted the phrases from ‘Grass’ such as “lying down faster than the wind” and “rising faster than the wind,” as signifying the tenacious vitality of the masses. Meanwhile, the humanist interpreted it as a symbol of life itself.

‘Grass, Kim Su-yong’ is a typographic art book in which a poem composed of letters is transformed into an image through the form of an art book. Under the guidance of Professor Hyunmee Kim, Xianlu Yi reinterpreted a poem into the form of concrete poetry that freely constitutes the size and location of letters, and utilizing the forms of pop-up and accordion books to express the repeated rhythm of the poem in three dimensions.


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Limited Edition, 50 copies
2019
11.3 x 13.5 cm
12 pages
Wooden hardcover / Accordion binding
ISBN 978-89-97605-39-2

*This book is a limited edition of 50 books in Korean and English.
*The bookmaking process was carried out with exquisite craftsmanship by Datz Books.

KOREAN EDITION >