Pararailing: Railing Codex
Pararailing: Railing Codex
Description
Railing Codex is an installation, a community printshop, and a collective dictionary created by Pararailing (Jie Shao, Sixing Xu and Xuecan Ye), their friends, and friends of their friends. Launched in 2022 as a response to the slippage of meaning that marks our post-pandemic world, Railing Codex invites cultural practitioners—artists, curators, writers, poets, scholars, and arts workers—to each contribute a dictionary definition for a word.
This project has now been materialized by RELATED DEPARTMENT into an artist’s book in the form of a slanted dictionary which collects the first eight volumes of Railing Codex. In each volume, contributors select one word from a designated list and interpret it in their chosen genre and language. Then, contributors each select one word from their respective entry and nominate a writer to participate in the next volume. The nominated writer chooses from this new list of words to continue writing.
Artist: Pararailing (Jie Shao, Sixing Xu and Xuecan Ye)
Design/Art Direction: RELATED DEPARTMENT
Published by: Page Bureau LLC (New York) 2025
Languages: Chinese and English
Specs: 736 pages
Dimensions: 100 x 135 x 48 mm
Printing: UV printing; silkscreen, offset printing with spot colors
Cover: Hardcover, leatherette
Binding: Sewn Bound
Edition: 1200
Translation: Jaime Chu, Mike Fu, Jiajing Lily Sun, Sixing Xu, Allen Young
English Copy Editing: Andrea Chu, Kate Costello, Jeff Crosby, Matt Turner, Aaris Woo -Publisher
Care
To maintain the beauty and integrity of your purchase, we recommend treating it with care. Simple maintenance practices, such as gentle washing and proper storage, can effectively preserve the longevity of your favorites. We encourage you to refer to the care instructions included with each item, designed to help you keep your purchase in top condition.
Design
Our dedication to excellence extends beyond materials; it encompasses the artistry and craftsmanship illustrated in every piece we create.