After seven years, poet Nguyễn Thiên Ngân returns with a new poetry collection, Người là một bóng chim khuê tú (The Silhouette of a Noble Crane). This book isn’t just a collection of 50 poems—it’s a deeply personal journey. It traces her struggles, her search for meaning, and ultimately, her acceptance of her true self. Moving from confusion to clarity, from resistance to embrace, it captures the raw, unfiltered process of self-discovery.
The title, taken from one of her poems, evokes the image of the demoiselle crane—elegant yet resilient, fragile yet unyielding. This bird is known for its incredible migration, braving harsh winds and crossing the towering Himalayas to reach the south. That symbolism became the foundation of the book, shaping not just its themes but also its design.
Visualizing Emotion
To bring this emotional journey to life visually, we created a series of mixed-media illustrations. We started with a question: If Nguyễn Thiên Ngân were an illustrator, how would she draw? We studied her photographs, layering drawings on top, allowing her perspective to guide the process. The result is a collection of images that feel deeply personal—like glimpses of memory, familiar yet distant.
Throughout the book, the demoiselle crane reappears, soaring through its pages. It serves as a quiet reminder that we are still on this journey—following the poet’s thoughts, emotions, and transformation.
The illustrations are intentionally minimal, crafted in black ink on white paper. Stripping away color ensures that nothing distracts from the words on the page. The poems themselves set the emotional tone; the visuals are simply guides, leaving space for the reader’s imagination to go beyond the page. The only color that remains is that of the paper itself—reinforcing the purity and rawness of the experience.
The Presence of Handwriting
From the early creative phase, we considered incorporating Ngân’s handwritten poems into the book—a way to add intimacy and authenticity to the reading experience. Initially, we explored a transition where handwritten poems would appear toward the back and slowly merge with the digital typesetting in the middle, symbolizing the unification of self—moving from fragmentation to acceptance.
In the end, we took a more subtle approach. Instead of a gradual transition, Ngân’s handwriting appears at key moments. The first poem opens in her handwriting, drawing readers immediately into her world, signaling that they are stepping into something deeply personal. Then, it reappears at the end, closing the book the way it began—with the poet’s own hand. These moments act as quiet markers of presence, reinforcing the idea that this journey isn’t just hers—it’s one we all take in our own way.
Crafting the Book as an Experience
The physical design of the book had to reflect its emotional weight. We chose an exposed spine with stitch binding, giving it a handcrafted, open feel—honest, raw, and unfiltered, much like the poetry itself. It’s printed on Magic Comma art paper, which adds a subtle texture, making every page feel tangible, almost like a personal letter rather than just a printed book.
This book isn’t just meant to be read—it’s meant to be felt. Every element, from the illustrations to the handwritten notes to the tactile quality of the paper, invites readers to step into the poet’s journey, to see themselves in her words, and perhaps, to find their own sense of self along the way.
