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Artist Paul Chan Revisits One of the 20th Century’s Greatest Thinkers in Playful New Drawings

Each drawing relates to one of the 5,968 words in Ludwig Wittgenstein’s “Wörterbuch für Volksschulen,” ranging from die Amsel, a solitary blackbird, to das Abendmahl, or “Last Supper,” a dozen festive figures dining on pizza….

Who knew that the 20th-century philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein wrote a textbook for children? Paul Chan did. Chan is an artist and the founder of Badlands Unlimited, which has just brought out Word Book, the first English-language edition of Wittgenstein’s Wörterbuch für Volksschulen (Dictionary for Elementary Schools) from 1926. Chan also provided the illustrations—ink drawings made with his non-dominant (left) hand—which manage somewhat miraculously to convey both child-like playfulness and sophisticated meaning. Each drawing relates to one of the 5,968 words in Wittgenstein’s lexicon, ranging from die Amsel, a solitary blackbird, to das Abendmahl, or “Last Supper,” a dozen festive figures dining on pizza. A lot more drawings are on view in Chan’s current exhibition at Greene Naftali Gallery, many of them very large—twelve feet high or wide.

Wittgenstein, who came from one of the richest families in Austria, had already published his game-changing Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus—a metaphysical inquiry into the workings of language—when he decided to give away all his money, and teach the fourth-to-sixth grade children of farmers and factory workers in rural communities from 1920 to 1926. Since the only two dictionaries available to them were either too expensive or inadequate, he wrote one himself.

“Word Book to me is a testament to how a mind changes, if one is willing to learn from others, especially kids, and if one is willing to let go of a certain idea about who one happens to be,” Chan tells me. “After his time teaching in rural Austria, Wittgenstein slowly realized his philosophy was fundamentally wrong. He spent the rest of his life re-writing his thoughts, and in the process, changing his life and mind. Stories about what it means to change are always meaningful to me. This is why I published this book, and why I’m publishing it now.” 

Below, Chan discusses Word Book with an apt critic—his young daughter, Ruby. 

Publisher’s note: The following interview took place on November 2, 2020, between Ruby Chan (the publisher’s nine-year-old daughter, a fourth grader and the same age as Wittgenstein’s youngest students) and the publisher, posing in an online chat as Ludwig Wittgenstein.

Wittgenstein: Dear Ms. Ruby Chan, I am very pleased that you have agreed to talk to me about my book.

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Ruby: My dad said if I did this he would let me watch my iPad.

Wittgenstein: Have you read the book?

Ruby: It’s a dictionary.

Wittgenstein: Have you opened it at least?

Ruby: Yeah, it’s pretty. I like the red cover and the drawings. They’re funny and weird. Kinda like my dad.

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Wittgenstein: What about the words, what do you think of the words?

Ruby: I like them. Did your students have to memorize all the words?

Wittgenstein: No, just the ones I thought they each needed.

Ruby: My dad said you are a philosopher.

Wittgenstein: People say that.

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Ruby: Why is the word “philosophy” not in the book?

Wittgenstein: Why do you care about philosophy?

Ruby: I don’t. It’s really boring. But dad likes it. He has fun reading it. I don’t understand why.

Wittgenstein: Do you like reading?

Ruby: I love it sooooo much! Percy Jackson, Keeper of the Lost Cities, Harry Potter….

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Wittgenstein: What does it feel like when you read?

Ruby: It feels so fun and cool. I see pictures in my mind. Also “ships.”

Wittgenstein: Words draw pictures of worlds for us in our minds, don’t they?

Ruby: That’s literally what I just said.

Wittgenstein: That’s why I wrote the book: to give my students bigger worlds to find themselves in.

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Ruby: That’s cool. Who’s Bettina?

Wittgenstein: She translated the book from the language I originally wrote the book in into English.

Ruby: Dad said I had to read her essay before I talked to you.

Wittgenstein: What did you think of her translator’s preface?

Ruby: I liked it. I like that she’s a mom. She wrote being a mom helped her translate the book.

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Wittgenstein: It’s interesting, this idea, isn’t it?

Ruby: What does the Hundred Year’s War mean?

Wittgenstein: Ask your dad.

Ruby: Nah, I’ll google it.

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Nike Zoom Hyperflight “Safari” Official Images Reveal Bold Print Ahead of Holiday Release

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The Nike Zoom Hyperflight is getting a bold new look, with the “Safari” colorway coming soon. We have official photos of the unique design for a closer look. The sneaker sports bright orange accents and a translucent outsold, and is expected to arrive during the holiday season at a retail price of $190.

The new version is inspired by the Safari print that is familiar from the Air Safari. That pattern covers most of the Hyperflight’s soft, molded upper, giving the basketball shoe a unique look compared with some of the model’s other recent colorways. Together, the unusual texture and pattern make the silhouette feel especially suited to the adventurous design.

The primary contrast across the shoe is orange, used in the trim and other details. The bright color pops against the speckled base without being overwhelming. Black is also present in the design, on the glossy support structure around the midfoot and the soft leather collar. The look is topped off with a see-through outsole that adds another visual element to the overall color scheme.

The sneaker will drop with style code IZ2573-010 and is expected in men’s sizing. With a retail price tag of $190, Nike, Foot Locker, and Sheikh are among the expected retailers. As for when you can expect it, it’s likely to be the holiday season, though we don’t have a solid release date.

The “Safari” colorway comes amid a busy period for the Zoom Hyperflight. This year, Nike has revived the model in several colors, bringing a new wave of attention to the silhouette through a series of releases. Another forthcoming option is the vibrant “Green Apple” pair, also scheduled for a holiday season release.

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The Hyperflight’s history also provides context for the latest return. Jason Williams wore the model in the early 2000s, linking it to a memorable era for the sneaker. That association also helps explain why new colorways can generate excitement beyond the shoe’s look, especially for those who remember it from its previous run.

The Safari design is a definitive statement that does not change the characteristic shape of the Hyperflight. Instead, it uses the familiar silhouette as a canvas for a pattern that has already become recognizable through another Nike model. The orange accents provide a bright contrast, while the black midfoot structure and collar balance it out.

Now that official images have surfaced, sneaker fans have a clearer idea of what to expect from the holiday release. The $190 price, style code, and expected retail partners have also been identified, but a specific launch date has not been confirmed.

For Nike, the “Safari” is another way to bring attention back to the Zoom Hyperflight. One of its more distinctive new looks is this returning model, featuring speckled print, orange trim, black support details, and an icy-looking translucent outsole.

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Lil Yachty Previews Another Nike Air Force 1 Mid, This Time With Blue and Orange Stitching

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Lil Yachty has added another eye-catching design to his ever-growing collection of Nike US Force 1 Mids, this time going for a cleaner white look accented by blue and orange stitching. The rapper’s latest take on the shoe keeps the familiar silhouette. Still, it uses contrasting details to give the shoe its own identity, something the artist is known for, showing off a steady run of variations on the silhouette.

 

Dubbed the “White Contrast Stitch,” the pair features white leather across most of the upper. Rather than altering the classic Air Force 1 Mid profile or incorporating a strange material, the design uses stitching to separate the design visually. Blue stitching embellishes the leather panels, and each side of the shoe’s Swoosh is lined with orange.

 

The combo adds a subtle but noticeable splash of color to the mostly white sneaker. It’s a more muted take than some of the more adventurous pairs Yachty has shown recently, so this version feels like the more no-nonsense option in his growing collection.

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The new design adds to the long list of Air Force 1 Mid looks associated with the rapper this year. Earlier previews have featured a stars-and-stripes pair, an orange version with black stars, and a yellow colorway tied to ComplexCon. Each has put a different spin on the familiar silhouette, helping make Yachty’s run of designs a continuing talking point among sneaker watchers.

 

Earlier this year, another pair of the shoes, this time with blue and red detailing and thick white stitching, was also teased. That version is expected to launch around the holidays, but the details provided don’t confirm whether it will launch alongside the recently unveiled white one.

 

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Some questions remain unanswered about the “White Contrast Stitch” design. Nike has not confirmed any price, style code, or even whether the sneaker will be released to the public. The design has drawn attention through its online appearance and Yachty’s preview, but neither sets a launch date nor guarantees consumers can buy it.

 

That anticipation makes the latest reveal more of a first look than a proper release announcement. The white leather upper and blue-and-orange stitching are on display, but key retail details remain unknown. For now, there is no confirmed timeline for when the pair might hit stores, or if it will be offered beyond the preview.

 

Still, the design adds another variation to a collection that has featured a wide variety of colors and details. The white base makes this one more subtle, while the contrast stitching keeps it from being a straight-up all-white release.

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Yachty’s latest preview continues his ongoing relationship with the silhouette, with several other Air Force 1 Mid designs already shown this year. It’s not clear if the “White Contrast Stitch” pair will ever make it to the light of day, but it’s definitely added another distinct look to his growing collection.

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