Claire Xuan│The Five Elements – Travel Journals

Reykjavík Museum of Photography

The photographs are processed as lithographs and on paper made from natural materials.  Between the sheets are thin sheets of paper (papyrus), printed with special features and written characters of different countries. The Travel Journals are desired collectors items as one can distinguish each work by its originality with regards to the printing technique used and the craftmanship of its presentation. The etchings of the journals and the presentation are examples of an encounter between the contemporary techniques used in the art of publication together with the tradition and heritage of the printing profession.



The handmade papers selected are made using traditional techniques and used essentially for engraving. Particular attention is payed to the drying process between each individual colour and the pages bound entirely by hand using rare paper qualities made from tea fibres, seaweeds, parchment or 
often paper made by local craftsmen in the country of origin.


The unification of the five fundamental elements in Asia is the source of Claire’s inspiration for the concept of her travel journals.

The unification of the five fundamental elements in Asia is the source of Claire’s inspiration for the concept of her travel journals, which span the past six years of her career in five different countries; Vietnam, Paris (France), Morocco, Madagascar and Iceland. On her travels around the globe, Claire seeks out different aspects of  the five natural elements; wood, fire, earth, metal and water and photographs them. 

The concepts of binomial and diptych were primarily considered when selecting the works for this exhibition. Seen from that perspective, the photographs illustrate a surprising common features, which may be observed in the same elements in different conditions and in different places in the world.

Claire Xuan│The Five Ele­ments – Travel Journ­als

The exhibition is based on the Travel Journals of the French-Vietnamese artist Claire Xuan, features a collection of artistic photography and reproductions of original etchings.

Claire Xuan│The Five Elements – Travel Journals