Melody Su
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Trace — Book (2025)
Presented in an accordion book format, this project draws on the Buddhist concept of samsara—the endless cycle of death and rebirth sustained by karma and ignorance. The 256 images of traces are organized into four stages—Decay, Residue, Transformation, and Newborn—mirroring the cyclical nature of existence. Each image serves as an embodiment of karma, collectively visualizing the perpetual process of decline and regeneration.
Four-Part Loop
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Decay — Dissolution of Form: Orderly compositions in cool tones symbolizing the fading of form.
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Residue — Fossils of Karma: Faded, fragmented images evoking traces and memory.
- Transformation — Field of Practice: High-saturation hues suggesting rebirth from the ashes.
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Newborn — Blossoming of Beginning: Green tones returning to order, echoing Decay and closing the cycle.
The book’s accordion layout allows it to be read in sequence or fully unfolded as a continuous visual map—its structure reflecting the concept of samsara itself, where the end folds seamlessly back into the beginning.