“Breath is one of the most beautiful and thoughtfully designed and written thesis books I have ever seen...this is the kind of thesis book that you absolutely want to share with the world. It is rare to design something that is both extremely delicate and extremely confident and precise.”
– Martin Venezky, Artist and Photorapher, 2001 SFMOMA Solo Exhibition
Projects within Breath
BIIG Cyanotype Book
BIIG is a 24” x 19” fully analog book, bound using the traditional Japanese stab binding technique. Its 250 pages of cyanotype-exposed sheets create a meditative rhythm—each page turn mimicking an inhale and exhale as it lifts and falls. A complete experience with the book takes approximately 30 minutes, guiding the reader through cyanotype impressions of natural materials gathered from Northern California beaches, including eucalyptus bark, acorns, driftwood, rocks, seaweed, and sand.
BIIG Process Video
2:23
Material Obstruction: In Leaving
During a meditation reflecting on breath as a tool to calm the mind amidst the chaos of a troubled world, I wrote a poem called In Leaving. I created a video juxtaposing scenes of catastrophic human and environmental events with footage of myself blowing up a balloon and a voice over of me reading the poem. The tension builds as the viewer anticipates the inevitable pop, a visceral symbol of life, death, and the essential role breath plays in every moment of our existence.
1:45
The Impermanence of Life: Experimentation with Candle Making
In exploring the concept of breath, I found myself reflecting on identity and the transient nature of life. Candle-making became an unexpected medium for this contemplation. The process demands significant effort, yet the result is something created to be burned, eventually melting away into nothingness. While I didn’t initially connect this act with my theme, it revealed itself as a poignant metaphor for temporality—highlighting the fleeting beauty of existence and the delicate balance between creation and impermanence.
Learn More
Breath came out in hardcover in September 2023. This project was a deeply personal and artistic journey where I explored the existential meaning of breath. Through experimenting with different materials, mediums, and media, I aimed to make the intangible tangible.
The book draws parallls between the design process and the chaotic "monkey brain," featuring stories and images of iterations, half-baked ideas, and the interplay between creativity and mindfulness. Inspired by the Dharma Family Treasures, it follows the narrative arc of the four truths of life—captured in the acronym BIIG: Life is a Bumpy Road, Impermanent, Interdependent, and can be Great.
I invite readers to pause and reflect on the subtle beauty and significance of breath—something invisible yet fundamental to life.
The book draws parallls between the design process and the chaotic "monkey brain," featuring stories and images of iterations, half-baked ideas, and the interplay between creativity and mindfulness. Inspired by the Dharma Family Treasures, it follows the narrative arc of the four truths of life—captured in the acronym BIIG: Life is a Bumpy Road, Impermanent, Interdependent, and can be Great.
I invite readers to pause and reflect on the subtle beauty and significance of breath—something invisible yet fundamental to life.
Have a question or an opportunity to share? Don’t hesitate to get in touch.