Postcard set
by Bienvenue Studios
"Viewing Stones"
Viewing Stones, originated from Taihu Lake in China, were admired for the extreme beauty that emanates from their ugly and queer features. Battered, created and shaped by water for ages, its pores and holes are formed. It is hallowed, as the soul of stones are washed and revealed. It is said that by looking at the stones, people acquire insights into their own soul. They were popular as ornamental objects among royal families and scholars; they have prevailed in traditional Daoist Gardens in China since the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) until now. Viewing Stone is counted among the highest forms of aesthetics in China. You can find more about morbid aesthetic in our book «Morbid Fascination».
"Virtues of Wood"
We discovered these remarkable deadwood sculptures on a beach in New Zealand and they immediately fascinated us. They once served as a habitat for countless organisms. Now they can be marveled at as a work-of-art created by nature.
Deadwood is not “dead”, quite the opposite, it is a place of rejuvenation. It provides nutrients to young plants and protects them against drought through its ability to retain water. Deadwood is an essential component of the forest ecosystem. Fungi, lichens, mosses, ferns, and many insect species have adapted to this habitat over the course of evolution. There is a wide variety of interdependencies between fungi and insects. Insects transfer fungal spores to the wood, and the fungi, in turn, can be a food source and habitat for other insects. This process is indispensable for the preservation of biodiversity.
Due to forestry and the increasing demand for energy wood, many animals and plants that depend on deadwood are now on the Red List of endangered species. Everyone can help counteract this by simply leaving a piece of deadwood in the corner of their garden or balcony.
"Pacific Settler"
Seashells play an important role in religion and spirituality in many cultures. A class of marine mollusk surprises people by creating ‘sculptures’. Bivalve, or two-shelled mollusks living in the intertidal zone, bore into wood, shale, chalk, clay and even thick oyster shells. Piddocks have a specially adapted shell which varies in toughness depending on the substrate they prefer to burrow into. When the mollusks are young, they settle with their tiny shells inside rock crevices. Using the sharp ridges that are on the outer surface of the shell, the piddocks enlarge the hole to accommodate them as they grow. After a while, the bivalve remains trapped inside its stony home, as the entrance ends up smaller than its grown shell. It is amazing that these perfect holes were bored by living creatures. They are Nature’s incredible artisans.
"Iridescence"
In mythology, beetles are often portrayed as treasure keepers. The ancient Egyptian god Khepri was represented by a scarab beetle, or a scarab-headed man, holding the sun aloft. This symbol possibly arose from the Ancients watching dung beetles from the family Scarabaeidae that roll dung into a ball as food and brood chamber in which they lay their eggs; when the larvae hatch, they are immediately surrounded by food, and then emerge as fully developed creatures. The action of rolling was akin to the sun being rolled above the horizon. This explains why the beetle was regarded as a symbol of the heavenly cycle of rebirth. The beetle is also often used as a talisman or symbol of protection. This came about as scarabs were believed to sense the annual flooding of the Nile. The beetles would flee before the flood, announcing the much-anticipated arrival of the replenishing water. Ancient dream books interpret beetles as a sign of modest character that is much beloved by others. The beetles are Nature’s living jewels.
"Paleolithic"
Shaped when intelligence began, roughly 2.6 million years ago, those primitive tools represent unique artworks as well as a milestone in our civilisation and human history. After that, humans began to produce early works of art and engage in religious and spiritual behaviour such as burials and other rituals.
"Pacific Marks"
Are these stones the product of astronomical forces? Have they fallen from space? In fact, these rocks are the creation of invertebrates that have burrowed into the stone. It is amazing to think that these perfect holes were bored into the stone by living creatures. The larger holes, about a centimeter across, are usually made by bivalve mollusks called Piddocks. They feature a special shell used for boring into rock. It is common to find these stones with holes whose inhabitants have moved on. Trying to remove the empty shells is difficult because the rocks become very fragile; they will disintegrate immediately under slight pressure. As pieces break away, the stones become more rounded and worn, then end up as pebbles on the beach. These stones have a characteristically light feel, which is very unusual for rocks. That lightness has inspired us in our graphical interpretation. We documented the stones and graphically staged them in a way to appear as if they were floating over the paper.
"Ephemeral Blooming"
In the course of thousands of years, succulents have had to adapt to a life with strong solar radiation, high daytime temperatures and cool nights. Located in very arid areas, they are forced to collect and store water in their beautiful structure to survive long dry periods. Even more amazing is the way they bloom. One can feel happy to witness this spectacle, as some species only bloom for a few hours, some for a few days and some only bloom during the night.
"Sun Fluttering"
Since antiquity, people have been fascinated by the transformation of a lifeless chrysalis into a butterfly. It is described as a sign of rebirth. And according to superstitions, witches were shifting into butterflies to steal cream and butter, giving the insect its name. Also well-known is “The Butterfly Effect” metaphor, used to depict the chaos theory in which a tiny insignificant flutter of a wing can start a storm in a faraway area. There are thousands of species on all continents, except for Antarctica. Many of those species are endangered due to loss of habitat, as some of them depend on specific landscapes or plants. Due to climate change, some species have started appearing in areas where they have not been seen before. But most of all, the butterfly is a wonder of nature captivating people all over the world with its delicate beauty.
"Leaves of Friendship"
The flowers of friendship are blooming in a vast variety of colours and are beloved all over the world over. The variation in the leaves, with its typical asymmetrical shape, is often overlooked, but is even more fascinating. The genus, Begonia, and its near 1800 variants was discovered in 1690 in the rainforests of South America by the botanist Charles Plumier. He named the plant after his companion, naval officer Michel Bégon, with whom he was travelling the world during the 17th century. The Begonia received its name and symbolism because of this relationship. Standing for dependability, loyalty and friendship: giving a Begonia as a present reinforces feelings and the promise to always be there for the other.
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A collection contains 5 assorted prints.
104 × 140 mm
Offset printing in Zurich, Switzerland
Z-Offset Natural Paper, 400g / m²
