Taiwanese artist discusses concept behind Grammy-nominated album cover

Taipei, Jan. 24 (CNA) Taiwanese artist Lee Pei-tzu (李珮慈) on Friday talked about the design concept behind the packaging of the album "Pregnancy, Breakdown, And Disease" by experimental band iWhooiWhoo that earned Lee her first Grammy nomination.

Lee's design, which takes the shape of a "gift box," was nominated for a Grammy award in the best recording package category in November 2024. The winners will be announced on Feb. 2.

The artwork on the box was meant to represent a scab, consistent with the album's theme of spreading sickness, Lee told CNA.

Instead of a CD, people who buy the album will get a translucent red cassette symbolizing blood, but they will not get the lyrics sheet they would normally find in conventional album packaging, Lee said.

"Beneath the cassette, a transparent sheet overlays a 'prescription'... revealing remedies for various afflictions," the band said of the album design on its social media pages.

"Each of the 11 tracks represents a pain, a scar, and a state (of) awaiting solace," the band said.

Lee, who graduated from National Chiao Tung University's Institute of Applied Arts, said she used to work for a design company where she undertook several graphic design commissions.

She said art is a catharsis of her emotions, while design is a process that "tells other people's stories in a language that everyone can understand."

In the case of iWhooiWhoo, it was an opportunity to help others pursue their dreams, Lee said.

Compared with commercial graphic design, artistic design grants her more creative freedom, Lee said, hoping to have the chance to work with musicians again in the future.

Lee said Taiwan's impressive creativity has been on full display at the Grammys, where the jury has given several nods to Taiwanese artists in recent years.

Taiwan first won the category in 2022 with the packaging of "Pakelang," designed by Li Jheng-han (李政瀚) and Yu Wei (于薇) for the album by The Chairman Band and 2nd Generation Falangao Singing Group.

In 2023, Taiwanese artists Xiao Qing-yang (蕭青陽) and his daughter Hsiao Chun-tien (蕭君恬) clinched the same award for Beginningless Beginning, the soundtrack produced by the Tamsui-Kavalan Chinese Orchestra for the short film Tamsui-Kavalan Trails Trilogy (淡蘭古道三部曲).