The Artistic Deconstruction of Kanji by Gen Si Ken and Go Shuu An

Designed by SSL

This collection of works is titled *KANJI*. It was created through the collaboration of Gen Si Ken and Go Shuu An, two artists born in Taiwan who are now living and working in Tokyo. The term *kanji* refers to the logographic characters used in the modern Japanese writing system, which originated from Chinese characters. Each kanji represents a word or concept, and many of them contain a rich historical and cultural significance.

In their project, the artists focus on deconstructing and reconstructing kanji as visual elements, drawing inspiration from the ancient ways of perceiving the world that are embedded in these characters. This creative process ignited their imaginations, moving them with the poetic beauty that lies within kanji. The book features a series of hand-drawn graphics that preserve the skeletal structure of the kanji while also conveying the original meanings and stories behind the characters. These artworks can be displayed as posters in a room or used as educational cards to teach the meanings of the kanji.

Additionally, the artists repurpose the waste paper generated during the printing of *KANJI* to handcraft bookmarks, which are included with the book, adding a unique and eco-conscious element to the collection.

SSLABORATORIUM, commonly known as SSL, is a Tokyo-based creative partnership specializing in art and design. The term "LABORATORIUM" is derived from the German word for "laboratory," a place traditionally associated with scientific research and experimentation. This name was chosen as a tribute to the 1991 German design project *Laboratorium der Zivilisation*. At SSL, the team embraces this legacy by applying design thinking to propose new ideas and hypotheses, particularly in the fields of cultural and environmental initiatives.

The Artistic Deconstruction of Kanji by Gen Si Ken and Go Shuu An

This collection of works is titled *KANJI*. It was created through the collaboration of Gen Si Ken and Go Shuu An, two artists born in Taiwan who are now living and working in Tokyo. The term *kanji* refers to the logographic characters used in the modern Japanese writing system, which originated from Chinese characters. Each kanji represents a word or concept, and many of them contain a rich historical and cultural significance.

In their project, the artists focus on deconstructing and reconstructing kanji as visual elements, drawing inspiration from the ancient ways of perceiving the world that are embedded in these characters. This creative process ignited their imaginations, moving them with the poetic beauty that lies within kanji. The book features a series of hand-drawn graphics that preserve the skeletal structure of the kanji while also conveying the original meanings and stories behind the characters. These artworks can be displayed as posters in a room or used as educational cards to teach the meanings of the kanji.

Additionally, the artists repurpose the waste paper generated during the printing of *KANJI* to handcraft bookmarks, which are included with the book, adding a unique and eco-conscious element to the collection.

SSLABORATORIUM, commonly known as SSL, is a Tokyo-based creative partnership specializing in art and design. The term "LABORATORIUM" is derived from the German word for "laboratory," a place traditionally associated with scientific research and experimentation. This name was chosen as a tribute to the 1991 German design project *Laboratorium der Zivilisation*. At SSL, the team embraces this legacy by applying design thinking to propose new ideas and hypotheses, particularly in the fields of cultural and environmental initiatives.