Card Set N° 7 – Viewing Stones

In Lake Tai near Suzhou, China, one finds stones of extraordinary shapes: perforated, craggy, and with bizarre silhouettes. Over long periods of time, they were shaped by the power of water and erosion into small sculptures created by nature. Some resemble mountains, animals, or human figures, while others leave plenty of room for one's own imagination.

In Chinese, these special stones are called "Gongshi." They were traditionally collected by scholars and placed on desks, in interior spaces, and in gardens. The focus was not only on their material value, but on the conscious contemplation of their forms and the thoughts they evoke.

Since the Ming Dynasty, viewing stones have been part of this Chinese tradition of collecting and contemplation. To this day, they are valued as precious collector's items and meditation stones. "Viewing Stones" presents these works of natural art as an invitation to take time and sink into one's own thoughts for a moment.

• A card set contains 5 different motifs
• Format: 104 × 140 mm
• Offset print in Zurich, Switzerland
• Z-Offset natural paper, 400 g/m²
• FSC-certified paper
• Concept & design: Bienvenue Studios