Bittersweet is a Risograph-printed photo book containing a visual essay of thoughtfully sequenced photography works by Huang. Through experimenting with Risograph printing, Huang used different Riso colours to recreate the stunning scenes in each photograph. Accompanying the images is a piece of auto-ethnographic writing, Seeking My Own Language, in which he reflects on his journey of questioning and constructing his identity through his personal and diasporic living experience as a member of the Chinese diaspora. The zine is printed with Risograph in fluorescent pink, yellow, bright red, sunflower, orange, kelly green, aqua, medium blue, light teal, purple, and black. 

Howsem Huang is a Toronto-based graphic designer and multidisciplinary artist who focuses on publication design, publishing, and Risography. As a former design fellow at Chronicle Books, he designed several titles including Young Queer America, Living While Black, and LEGO In Focus. He is the co-founder of Some Print Studio, a community Risograph printing studio in Kensington, Toronto. Through his self-published artist’s books and zines, Huang explores his Cantonese-Chinese identity and experiences as a Chinese émigré. His work has been exhibited at Boston University Art Galleries, IS A GALLERY, and SF Camerawork. 

Further Links: Bittersweet, Second Edition / howsem.net

Bittersweet, 1st edition was published by Occasional Press in 2024

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