Chinese Edition Joins English & Italian, French, Spanish And Korean Versions#
After much deliberation -- and many issues over the years featuring China -- the 21-year-old Italian photography quarterly COLORS is growing ever more global with the launch of its new bilingual Chinese-language edition. Starting with its 83rd issue, "Happiness," the new edition is designed to "provide Mandarin speakers with stories from around the world." The bilingual Chinese version is a welcome addition to the 15 languages and four bilingual editions (English & Italian, French, Spanish and Korean) in which the magazine is currently available.
The new Chinese edition of COLORS is not the magazine’s first foray into China. In September 2011, Jing Daily attended the “Transport: Homemade Vehicles From Around the World” exhibition at Shanghai's Hong Miao Art Gallery, which commemorated the launch of its "Transport" issue. However, "Happiness" marks the official print launch of the magazine in China. The issue includes the magazine's trademark wide range of stories from around the globe, including “an exploration of Bhutan and its Gross National Happiness survey, 'Living Funeral' therapy in South Korea, and llama psychotherapists in Washington, U.S.A.”
As COLORS creative director Patrick Waterhouse said of the magazine's China debut, “COLORS isn’t just for graphic designers looking for inspiration; it’s for people who want to learn about their world.” With this target audience in mind, expanding to China seems to be the natural thing to do. As mainland Chinese continue to develop a stronger interest in the world around them -- with millions traveling outside the country, and ever further afield, on a yearly basis -- the magazine should find a receptive audience among China's more design and art-savvy readers.
In addition to putting out its Chinese bilingual edition, COLORS has also launched a new installment of its Notebook Project for China, inviting readers to buy blank copies of COLORS and create their own customized version. Ivan Liu, director of Nong Art in Shanghai, is currently collecting submissions for display at his space in the hopes of building a “portrait of contemporary China, an insight of feelings, thoughts, values and Chinese people’s everyday lives.” In previous years, the COLORS Notebook Project has been exhibited at art spaces around the world, including the Shanghai Art Museum in 2007.
Yearlong subscriptions to COLORS in China are now available online for 280 yuan (US$44). A sneak peek at the "Happiness" issue is available here.