Anonymous Landscapes” is a way of thinking that contemporary artist and poet Lü De’an has put forward in recent years regarding his own creative work. We were invited to participate in the design expression of this content, and in several exchanges with the artist, we quickly reached a consensus that “anonymity” is not a lack of presence, but rather may contain unexpected touches. Landscapes, as the background of daily life, are commonplace and can be seen without being named a particular mountain or river, yet they can still be objects to be perceived and responded to.

Building upon an analysis of the essence of Lü De’an’s mixed media works, we introduce a material approach that resonates with him in a contemporary context: the “scratch card.” By scratching away the coating to reveal the text, we reconstruct the viewing path of the landscape, allowing traditional imagery and contemporary material experience to map onto the same plane. This act of “scratching” is both a response to the artist’s question of “how to love a homeland” and a metaphorical action: the landscape is not directly presented, but gradually revealed through being touched and intervened upon. In today’s highly fragmented global social context, this state between revelation and concealment makes “anonymous landscapes” more than just a projection of individual experience; it generates a broader background of resonance.

Lü De’an, a poet and contemporary artist who has long lived and traveled between China and the United States, is known for his concept of “anonymous landscapes,” which is one of the key ideas he has put forward in recent years regarding his creative work. The texts used in this design are all selected from Lü De’an’s poetry and related writings