The Samurai tree, invariants

This most elaborate artist book by Gabriel Orozco examines all possible permutations within a self-defined spatial and color system based on the 'Knight's move' (or as the artist expresses the 'Samurai's move') within a game of chess. In each, a circle is drawn in the centre, and moving out from this point, a sequence of increased or decreased circles is drawn, until the limits of the square is reached. Gabriel Orozco has done a series of 672 digital prints due to these rules, 50 x 50 cm each, calculating all the possible movements and variations. He spells them out by extending them in space. By these simple visual means and rules the artist achieves an almost incomprehensible compexity. This book shows all the 672 resulting images - in White, Red, Blue and Gold. Gabriel Orozco designed the cover as a new artwork referring to the series of prints - by silk-screen printing the colors become three-dimensional and bright contrasting with an unusual softness and plasticity. Gabriel Orozco first launched his “The Samurai Tree” series at the Venice Biennale in 2005.