“I make one-of-a-kind collapsible artist’s books that combine my photography with pop-up paper engineering. Pop-up and flap books originally illustrated ideas about astronomy, fortune telling, navigation, anatomy of the body, and other scientific principles. This history prompted me to construct my own books reflecting ideas on how our selves relate to society today.

“My pop-ups are a way for me to speak, mediate, express, delight, and inform. Constructing pop-ups allows me to combine intuitive design and technical acuity with my love of traveling as I try to understand the world around me. With pop-up books, I want to eliminate the boundaries between book, installation, photography, craft, and sculpture.” — Colette Fu

This book shows the Axi people of Yunnan Province celebrating their annual Fire Festival to honor Mu Deng, the man who legendarily brought them fire. It functions as part of a series of pop-up books entitled, “We Are Dragon People.”

With the help of a Fulbright fellowship, Fu began photographing for this project in 2008. Twenty-five of the fifty-five minority tribes of China reside in Yunnan Province and comprise only 8.5% of the nation’s population, with the Han representing the majority. Fu’s mother is a member of the black Yi tribe, and her grandfather, Lung Yun, was Governor of Yunnan from 1927 to 1945 as well as Commander-in-Chief of the 1st Army Group.

All design, photography, and production by Colette Fu.
Camera: Canon 5D, with 24-105mm, f/4L Lens
Post-Production: Photoshop CS3
Printer: Epson 3880
Ink: UltraChrome® K3
Paper: Cougar 65lb Cardstock, Ultra Premium Presentation Matte
Dimensions: 17 x 25 x 11 inches
Other materials: Black Iris Cloth, PVA glue