Chi Performance Art Identity

Chi Performance Art Identity

Chi Performance Art Identity is a sophisticated bilingual visual communication system designed to explore and articulate the complex cultural dichotomy between traditional Chinese societies and their diasporic counterparts through the lens of culinary traditions. Created by designers Benhao Xie and Joshua Shao, this comprehensive identity system employs a thoughtfully curated combination of typography, color theory, and three-dimensional elements to represent the intricate relationship between native Chinese and American-born Chinese populations. The design, which earned recognition with an Iron A' Design Award in the Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design category, features a striking visual language that manifests across multiple formats, including 16.5 x 23.4-inch posters and 8.5 x 5.5-inch booklets. At its core, the identity centers around a performance piece where two artists interact contrastingly with eight traditional Chinese dishes, symbolizing the nuanced cultural dialogue through food. The design's visual elements are carefully constructed to reflect this duality, with red English text on white backgrounds representing the American-born Chinese experience, while black Chinese text on red backgrounds embodies traditional Chinese cultural expression. A particularly notable element is the three-dimensional ice letter Chi, which is intentionally distorted and bisected in the center of the posters, serving as a powerful metaphor for cultural division and connection. The project, which emerged from extensive research including interviews with Chinese restaurant owners in the United States, demonstrates how shared eating practices in Chinese culture can serve as a lens for examining broader social and cultural dynamics, making it a significant contribution to the discourse on cultural identity in contemporary design.

performance art identity, bilingual design, cultural dichotomy, Chinese diaspora, visual communication, culinary traditions

— Adam Dawson

CITATION : "Adam Dawson. 'Chi Performance Art Identity.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/define/chi-performance-art-identity?E=438563 (Accessed on October 14, 2026)"