在与摇滚乐相关联的音乐类型中,
在中国发展尤其繁荣。这种通常不借用人声与歌词表意的音乐注重构建 “声音图景”
并使用视觉作为整体艺术表达的一部分。除了经常出现在现场演出的巨幅投影画面,后摇滚唱片针对不同尺寸包装选用的图片及装帧方式经常极具特点,与音乐共同传递出抽象表现主义的倾向。
Among the wide array of rock music genres, post-rock really stands out, especially in China where it has grown
incredibly popular. This genre takes a unique approach to music: instead of using vocals or lyrics to tell a
story, it focuses on crafting immersive "soundscapes". Visual elements are also a key part of its artistic
expression. Besides the frequent presence of large-scale projection visuals at live performances, post-rock
albums often feature distinct images and framing styles tailored to different album formats. This visual
design, along with the music itself, tends to convey a strong sense of abstract expressionism.
惘闻乐队作为目前中国最具代表性的后摇滚、器乐摇滚乐队之一,于 1999 年成立于大连,成军 21 年来,发行超过 10
张以上录音室专辑。作为一支产出稳定且持久的老牌劲旅,惘闻乐队的稳步发展富有连续性又不失惊喜。细心乐迷对于惘闻声音鞭辟入里的分析自然是阐释乐队抽象艺术的一个角度,而聚焦惘闻过往专辑在视觉上的突破同样不失为理解惘闻音乐世界的重要线索
—— 这些设计也或多或少从不同角度映射出中国摇滚乐唱片设计取向的变迁。
Wang Wen, a band that has emerged as one of the most influential forces in China's post-rock and instrumental
rock landscape, originated in Dalian in 1999. With a remarkable journey spanning 21 years, they have produced
over 10 studio albums. As a long-standing veteran in the music scene, it has achieved remarkable and
consistent growth, while still managing to surprise their audience. Devoted fans delve deep into their
distinctive sound, which offers a unique and abstract artistic perspective. Moreover, a careful examination of
Wang Wen's visual creations in their previous albums reveals crucial insights into their musical universe.
These artistic designs, each with its own significance, shedding light on the evolution of Chinese rock album
aesthetics from various perspectives.
惘闻的第一张专辑
是一张结合
的专辑封面,封面右下方放置了一颗被麻绳缠绕的“惘闻”鸡蛋,从鸡蛋的破口能看见内在有个长满尖刺的仙人掌,视觉上呈现矛盾、冲突感,似与惘闻当时传达的音乐及心境不谋而合;封面的左上方则写着惘闻乐队及专辑的中英文名称,英文团名
“Unknown Band” 像是在说“名字其次,用心感受音乐就好”。
The debut album by Wang Wen, titled "Diary of 28 Sleepless Days," showcases a captivating blend of
photography and set design. The album cover features a striking image—a "Wang Wen" egg tightly
wrapped in hemp rope, with the shattered shell revealing a cactus adorned with sharp spikes. This
visually impactful presentation depicts a palpable sense of contradiction and conflict, mirroring
the music and atmosphere that Wang Wen sought to convey. In the top left corner of the cover, the
band's name, "Wang Wen," appears alongside the album title, presented in both Chinese and English.
Notably, the English band name, "Unknown Band," seems to suggest that the essence of Wang Wen's
music transcends mere labels and resides in the immersive experience it offers.
洗炼的设计反衬音乐旋律的柔和线条,
飘逸的封面尽显乐队当下时期的狂放与力量感;惘闻的专辑设计伴随乐队自身的声音发展,在持续演进过程中总试图传递新的情绪和感受。这样的心思在乐队第十张录音室专辑《看不见的城市》的实体设计上尤为明显。
The design of "0.7" complements the gentle melodies of the music with its soft, flowing lines. The ethereal
cover of "Eight Horses" captures the band's current dynamic energy and raw power. Wang Wen's album designs
evolve alongside their evolving sound, aiming to evoke new emotions and sensations. This intention is
particularly evident in the artistic design of their tenth studio album, "Invisible City."
专辑封面来自于
。他创作的四幅系列作品奇幻、唯美且柔软,描绘出城市场景之上(又或之中)“流水般的幻境”;而这些飘渺的感觉得以实体化,靠的是专辑的装帧设计师卢涛。他用巧妙的折叠和展开方式,将四幅作品串连起来,在每一次翻折中都能看到作品的全貌及局部,呈现“看不见的城市”的超现实想像。至于唱盘的部分,卢涛采用双色融合工艺,让整个视觉、听觉的感受既连贯又互为阐述。
The album cover, created by illustrator Cen Jun, showcases a series of four fantastical and delicate
illustrations depicting a "flowing dreamscape" set against urban landscapes. The intricate artwork beautifully
captures the surreal imagination of "Invisible City." Album designer Lu Tao skillfully integrates these
illustrations through clever folding and unfolding techniques, allowing viewers to appreciate both the overall
composition and the intricate details with each fold. The vinyl record itself features a dual-color fusion
technique, enhancing the visual and auditory experience in a cohesive and complementary manner.
在
中,主视觉的图像基本上决定了唱片封面给人的第一感觉,装帧设计师的角色更像是退到幕后的、作为连接音乐人和插画家的桥梁。在很多时候需要思考的是:如何用更适合的方式去呈现整体氛围的传达。
In "Invisible City," the album cover's primary visual image sets the initial impression for viewers. The role
of the album designer is more akin to working behind the scenes, acting as a bridge between the musicians and
the illustrator. Often, the designer needs to carefully consider how to capture and convey the overall vibe in
a more appropriate and engaging way.
2020年11 月惘闻乐队发行最新专辑
,再次邀请卢涛操刀装帧设计。唱片的封面选择阿根廷艺术家 Manolo Gamboa Naon 通过编写代码由电脑生成的作品。画作在生成前连艺术家也无法事先预料它的样貌,这正是生成艺术(generative
art)的魅力所在。在惘闻乐队的谢玉岗选定封面后,卢涛为了再现作品的迷离感,选择用光栅技术去模拟这种数字化的效果。而今年的疫情则为唱片生产增加了许多随机性及不确定性。各种过程中的 “未知” 也成为这张专辑隐形的参与者。
In November 2020, Wang Wen released their latest album, titled "100,000 Whys," and once again collaborated
with album designer Lu Tao for the album's design and packaging. The album's cover was crafted by Argentine
artist Manolo Gamboa Naon using computer-generated artwork created through coding. Its unique allure lies in
the fact that even the artist couldn't anticipate its appearance prior to its generation, showcasing the
captivating essence of generative art. After guitarist Xie Yugang selected the cover, Lu Tao skillfully
employed raster techniques to capture the elusive and digital essence of the artwork. The ongoing pandemic in
that year added an extra layer of unpredictability and uncertainty to the album's production, with the
"unknown" becoming an invisible yet influential participant throughout the various processes.
同样地,《十万个为什么》在设计前已选定了封面的主视觉图像,视觉上给人的感觉大概有一个初步想象,装帧设计师在这里的工作就是要将图像及音乐有效地串连在一起,同时将如何刺激听、视觉外其他感官纳入综合考虑。譬如纸张的触感、油墨的气味及工艺的感受等细节都会影响最终消费者打开、翻阅及聆听等整体的音乐体验。出乎意料的是,统率所有工序的主旨在卢涛看来恰恰是不要有
“设计” 的欲望,而重在不让设计成为 “多余的元素” 。
In the case of "100,000 Whys," the primary visual image for the album cover had already been chosen before the
design process began, providing a general idea of the visual impact it would create. The album designer's role
is to effectively bridge the image with the music, while also considering how to engage the senses beyond just
sight and sound. Factors like the paper texture, ink scent, and overall craftsmanship all contribute to the
holistic music experience for the end consumer when they open, flip through, and listen to the album.
Surprisingly, the guiding principle throughout all these processes, as described by Lu Tao, is to resist the
urge for excessive "design" and instead focus on keeping the design subtle.
到了2022年,卢涛再次为惘闻的唱片《辛丑|壬寅》做了平面及实体唱片装帧设计。经过他的灵感解构,
实体唱片设计层面,我们和卢涛老师以及老朋友四色印刷在制作前期仔细地核对了纸张用料、封套尺寸、印刷颜料,每一方对细节的重视和把控,让《辛丑|壬寅》顺利诞生,而且是大家理想中的模样——一张记录时代的唱片。
In 2022, Lu Tao once again led the design of Wang Wen's album, " Painful Clown & Ninja Tiger," encompassing
both the visual graphics and physical presentation. Through inspired deconstruction, the calligraphic font of
"Painful Clown & Ninja Tiger" became the centerpiece of the album cover, arranged in a captivating collage
style. The font was enlarged and overlapped to create a powerful and intense visual impact, shaping the
overall perception of the era alongside the music. During the production phase, careful attention was given to
every detail, including the selection of paper materials, the dimensions of the album sleeve, and the choice
of printing pigments. This meticulous approach, in collaboration with our trusted partners at Four-Color
Printing, ensured the seamless creation of " Painful Clown & Ninja Tiger," capturing the essence of the times
and bringing our ideal vision to life.
回顾卢涛过往执行的音乐项目会发现,他的设计大多从概念及内容着手,再通过调研梳理逻辑,一步步形成视觉画面,设计的过程理性且克制。
Looking back at Lu Tao's previous music projects, it is evident that his designs are rooted in concepts and
content. Through thorough research and meticulous organization, he carefully develops visual imagery,
approaching the design process with a rational and restrained mindset. A prime example of this approach is
seen in his concert posters for Zbigniew Karkowski, Yao Dajun, and Li Jianhong. These posters are created
using ASCII code conversions, incorporating the performers' names, time, and venue information. Printed on
vibrant trifold sheets, they exude a sense of computational order, resonating with the experimental nature of
以他为 Zbigniew
Karkowski、姚大钧、李剑鸿设计的演出海报为例,海报基于 ASCII
码转换生成演出者的名字、时间及场地等活动讯息,并印在彩色三联单上,给人一种计算机的秩序感受,也和三位演出者的实验音乐属性相互呼应。
作为一位喜爱声音艺术的平面设计师,卢涛从不吝啬分享他对音乐视觉的观点。他投入大量时间阅读、研究地下音乐的历史及视觉脉络,并保持不断的输出。他曾在一场讲座上表示:从行动美学到美学产出的过程十分重要,不管是音乐人还是设计师,都要走到基层,置身于生产的环节中,有产量出来,把它当成一个商品进行交换,美学的实践才有意义。
As a graphic designer with a passion for sound art, Lu Tao is always eager to share his perspectives on the
visual aspect of music. He dedicates a significant amount of time to reading and studying the history and
visual trends of underground music while maintaining a continuous output. During a lecture, he expressed the
importance of the process from aesthetic action to aesthetic production. Whether one is a musician or a
designer, it is crucial to get involved at the grassroots level, immerse oneself in the production process,
generate output, treat it as a commodity for exchange, and give meaning to the practice of aesthetics.
而他除了设计工作外,有时还是地下音乐会的组织者、设计展的策展人及视觉文化写作者。他以个人的实践探索着设计师的可能性,用自身的设计专业介入更多领域。新的沟通模型正在发生。
In addition to his design work, Lu Tao sometimes acts as an organizer of underground music events
(designer as organizer), a curator of design exhibitions (designer as curator), and a writer on
visual culture (designer as author). Through his personal exploration and multi-faceted approach, Lu
Tao expands the possibilities of being a designer and brings his design expertise into various
fields, acting as an organizer of underground music events, a curator of design exhibitions, and a
writer on visual culture. This holistic approach to communication is giving rise to a new model that
embraces the interconnectedness of design and diverse creative disciplines.
惘闻的作品集合如一座 “看不见的城市”,体势庞大,又如幻象般飘渺;在它繁复的结构中有着 “十万个为什么” 的机巧设计;而卢涛这样的视觉工作者正通过自己审慎的设计语言为站在城池大门前的听众提供了一把打开脉络的钥匙。
Wang Wen's body of work can be likened to an expansive and ethereal "Invisible City." Within its intricate
structure, we find the cleverly designed album "100,000 Whys." Visual practitioners like Lu Tao, with their
meticulous design language, provide the audience standing at the gates of this city with a key to unlocking
以下为来自媒体「别的BIEDE」的作者 yuchenghsiao 对卢涛的采访问答。
Below is an interview with Lu Tao, conducted by Yuchenghsiao, an author from the media outlet "Biede."
更多关于卢涛的信息...
卢涛常以“套套卢”网络称谓模糊自我身份定位,活跃于中国当下文化创作领域,打通商业传播与设计、写作评论的界限。秉承视觉写作精神,近年偏重独立出版、Info-graphic
及编辑设计。近年来,卢涛多次受邀参加大声展、北京设计周、中国设计大展、亚洲平面设计双年展、宁波国际设计双年展、首尔国际文字设计双年展(Typojanchi 2013)、第十届上海双年展。
2009年 成立联合视务/Design United,涉足从主流媒体包装到亚文化的视觉经营及推广
2009年 与方闲海启动“黑哨诗歌出版计划”,推动中国当代诗人的诗歌出版
2011年 和迷盒成立Deadline设计组,携手JNBY创立文化反堵杂志《COVER》
2012年 策划“企鹅图书封面设计亚洲巡展”(北京-杭州-首尔)
2013年 成立跨媒体文化团体『BUS公交委员会』
2014年 担任上海双年展城市馆系列展设计总监
2017年 参与碧山民艺计划
2017年 与宛青、邵年成立XYZ Lab,策划“幻景:中岛英树展”,2019年4月被国际知名设计媒体 It’s Nice That 采访。
2018年 成立“学习组”,力图融通视觉研究、设计考古、活动分享、展览策划及写作出版。
For more information about Lu Tao...
Lu Tao, also known as "Tao Tao Lu" in online circles, is a highly regarded figure in China's contemporary
creative scene. He effortlessly blurs the lines between commercial communication, design, and critical
writing. With a passion for visual storytelling, he has been actively involved in independent publishing,
info-graphics, and editorial design in recent years. Lu Tao's work has been showcased in various
prestigious exhibitions and events, including the Loud Design Exhibition, Beijing Design Week, China
Design Exhibition, Asia Graphic Design Biennial, Ningbo International Design Biennial, Seoul International
Typography Biennale (Typojanchi 2013), and the 10th Shanghai Biennale.
2009: Founded Design United, engaging in visual operations and promotion ranging from mainstream media
2009: Launched the "Black Whistle Poetry Publishing Project" with Fang Xianhai to promote the publication
of contemporary Chinese poets' poetry.
2011: Established the Deadline design group with Mibox, collaborated with JNBY to create the cultural
anti-blockage magazine "COVER."
2012: Curated the "Penguin Book Cover Design Asian Tour Exhibition" (Beijing-Hangzhou-Seoul).
2013: Founded the cross-media cultural group "BUS Public Committee."
2014: Served as the Design Director for the Shanghai Biennale's Urban Pavilion series exhibition.
2017: Participated in the Bishan Folk Art Project.
2017: Established XYZ Lab with Wan Qing and Shao Nian, curated the "UNREAL SCENE: HIDEKI NAKAJIMA"
exhibition and was interviewed by the internationally renowned design media It's Nice That in April 2019.
2018: Established the "Study Group," aiming to integrate visual research, design archaeology, event
sharing, exhibition curation, and writing publishing.
「壬寅造访」系列
后摇滚(post-rock)
《28 天失眠日记》
摄影及布景设计 (set design)
Diary of 28 Sleepless Days,
《八匹马》
s current dynamic energy and raw power. Wang Wen
插画师岑骏
《看不见的城市》
“辛丑壬寅”书法字体以装饰拼贴的方式构成了专辑封面的主要部分,放大字体直至占满整个画面、压迫感十足的笔画相互交错……这些设计点和专辑音乐一同构成了人们对于时代的感受。
Penguin Book Cover Design Asian Tour Exhibition
Fascinating people are always drawn to each other.
Painful Clown & Ninja Tiger,
`[艺术家] 卢涛`