Baba Aab Daad (Father Gave Water) by Golnar Adili
Baba Aab Daad (Father Gave Water) by Golnar Adili
From Golnar:
“بابا آب داد (Baabaa Aab Daad)- Father Gave Water is an homage to language and tactility inspired by my toddler's wood blocks and my love for the Persian language. This phrase, Baabaa Aab Daad made of wood block modules is translated to "Father Gave Water" which is the first sentence first graders learn in Iran. The reason for this is that it has very basic sound and lettering using the A, B, and D (the first letters in the Persian alphabet which is similar to English being an Indo-European language).
During covid, I revisited the fundamentals, similar to handwashing- and this is how it translated into my book work. I also find English and Persian connections both coming from the same roots resonating adifferent tune in these divisive times.
Additionally, I have embedded in this book a small history of a wonderful man who further developed the first grade book and co-founded the nomadic schools in Iran. I decided to entangle him in the book since my research on the phrase "Baabaa Aab Daad" brought him to the foreground. He appeared in a lovely movie titled Gabbeh by Makhmalbaaf in the 90's showing the simple life of a rug fiber colorist in Shiraz and the dream concept behind making Gabbeh (a kind of simple colorful nomadic thick Persian rug). He was also an herbal colorist of fiber in his real life.”
The text is set in Calibri Regular, letterpress printed on Colorplan paper. I have used wood cubes to construct the Persian letters, a modular typography I designed, and felt for the base into which the wooden letters are inserted. The covers are bound in Duo Bookcloth.
The book is made in an Edition of 25, with 5 Artist proofs in 2020.
Book design and binding: Golnar Adili
Hot Stamping: Biruta Auna
Letterpress: Roni Gross