Flourish Banners

Woodcut-printed banners with typographic flourishes, in reference to the highly individualized pathways to psychological flourishing.

I researched 19th-century printed ephemera at the Tides Institute & Museum of Art in Eastport, Maine. Then I enlarged, carved and printed four typographic ornaments on fabric using an etching press to create this ongoing edition varie.

In Flourish, Dr. Martin E. P. Seligman suggests replacing the pursuit of subjective well-being (happiness) with the promotion of human flourishing. For more on the foundations of flourishing, see Positive Signs: United Theories.

Caption: Christine Wong Yap, Flourish Banners, 2013, woodcut prints on fabric, ~19x24 in / 48 x 61 cm each, edition varie. Supported by the STUDIOWORKS/Tides Institute & Museum of Art, a private not-for-profit organization.

Thanks to Kristin, Hugh, Winnie, Heather, Anna, Jon, and the Seeleys for a fantastic residency experience.

Source: Seligman, Martin E. P. Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-being. New York: Simon & Schuster (2011)