A Complete Set of Ex-Libris of Chinese Zodiac Animal Symbols by Ying Han

I am glad to have a complete set of ex-libris designed by Ying HAN, a painter in Qingdao, Shandong Province, China. He had been giving me customized ex-libris for every Chinese lunar new year in the past twelve years.

New Year Ex-Libris

 I just received a new year gift from Mr. Han Ying, who is one of my friends and an artist from Qingdao, Shandong Province.

This ex-libris for the coming Year of the Dragon, beginning from February 10, 2024, is a red dragon seal image inspired from the Jade Dragon of the Hongshan culture in the Northeastern China 5000 years ago.

Mr. Han promised to design a complete set of ex-libris with 12 animals from the Chinese zodiac cycle. This is the eleventh ex-libris he designed for me, and the eighth in the zodiac cycle.

My New Ex-Libris for the New Year

 

Mr. Ying Han designs customized ex-libris for me every year. The one for the Year of Rabbit is a rabbit lying flat. The painter explans it in the text that the lying down is not abandoning, but longing for the blossoming flowers in the spring. I think it also marks the ending of the pandemic.

Hand-made red copper relief ex-libris for Albert Camus

Hand-made red copper relief ex-libris for the book Carnets by Albert Camus. The Chinese version was published by Zhejiang University Press in 2019. This ex-libris is very special even in the world. It is design for the 15th anniversary of Qizhen Library, which is the Beijing office of the publisher. The flying horse with skull implicates his absurdity, and also the coexistence of humans with viruses. This ex-libris is recently made by Anjianda, one of my friends.

Hand-made red copper relief ex-libris for Ludwig Wittgenstein

Hand-made red copper relief ex-libris for the book Ludwig Wittgenstein: the duty of genius by Ray Monk. The Chinese version was published by Zhejiang University Press in 2014. This ex-libris is very special even in the world. It is design for the 15th anniversary of Qizhen Library, which is the Beijing office of the publisher. We can see a sewing machine and a book, which reflect his interests from engineering (he made a sewing machine when he was ten years old) to mathematics and philosophy. This ex-libris was recently made by Anjianda, one of my friends.

Hand-Made Copper Relief Ex-Libris for George Steiner's Book

Hand-made red copper relief ex-libris for the book After Babel: aspects of language and translation by George Steiner. The Chinese version was published by Zhejiang University Press in 2020. This ex-libris is very special even in the world. It is designed for the 15th anniversary of Qizhen Library, which is the Beijing office of the publisher. The four steps of translation, trust, aggression, incorporation and restitution, are reflected on the relief. This ex-libris is recently made by Anjianda, one of my friends.

My Special Ex-Libris for the Year of Tiger

Mr. Ying Han, a painter from Qingdao, Shandong Province, designed a special ex-libris for me for the Year of Tiger.

In the picture, the tiger seems to be a scholar reading Wildlife Protection Law. What he thinks includes:

• How to protect myself?
• Wear face mask,
• COVID-19 vaccination,
• Keep social distance,
• Do not go to places where are many people,
• To be vegetarian,
• Keep quiet,
• Sleep at home.

How to put humans in cages?

Mr. Ying HAN, one of my friends and a painter from Qingdao (Tsingtao), is very philosophical. Two years ago at the beginning of the Year of the Dog, he made an ex-libris for me, with a dog saying "how to put humans in cages?"

Two years later, faced with the 2019-nCoronaVirus, we have to stay at home for several weeks, just like animals in cages. Animals are coronated at the Year of the Rat. Humans will be punished by the nature, if they continue to be so greedy.