Alexxander

The monster you were running from is the monster in you.

With over 60 paintings, this series tells the story of a teenager struggling with schizophrenia; turning him against his mother. As we follow his journey through the New York subway, we discover what led to the sudden disappearance of his mother.

Concept, Illustration, Photography | Edmund Liang
Mentors | Richard Keyes

Front Cover
Folder was made to look like a patient file that was heavily water damaged from the rain.

Opening Quote
The book opens with this thought to set the tone.

The Playbook

I love creating tactile versions of projects. Bringing props from a fantasy world to life blurs the line between fiction and reality. For Alexxander, I made a playbook that looks like his water-damaged patient file, resembling an investigation document found under an open window during a rainstorm.

Inside, I hid numerous easter eggs like scripts, police evidence, diary entries, sketches, and over 60 paintings and photographs that mirror Alexxander’s deteriorating mental condition. As viewers flip through the book, they’ll notice the typesetting and layout becoming more chaotic, with pages changing color from grey to red, covered in stains and burn marks.

Making Of Playbook

I love binding books. The smell and feel of beeswax-coated thread being pulled through the pages is incredibly satisfying. And when all the pages are finally stitched together, there's a sense of fulfillment that I find nowhere else.

Playbook Content

Below is a glimpse into the 60+ illustrations created to bring Alexxander’s world to life.

Reoccurring Sketch
Many of similar drawings were found in Alexxander’s sketchbooks. Notice the two fish in the center. — Reoccurring Sketch Many of similar drawings were found in Alexxander’s sketchbooks. Notice the two fish in the center.

Alexxander's Diary Entry
His doctor has asked him to keep a journal. This was one page from it before his mother died. — Alexxander's Diary Entry His doctor has asked him to keep a journal. This was one page from it before his mother died.

Vision of His Mother's Blood
Alexx explains that he’s constantly haunted by a scene of his mother’s blood pouring out of a washer. — Vision of His Mother's Blood Alexx explains that he’s constantly haunted by a scene of his mother’s blood pouring out of a washer.

The Dream Part 1
Alexx finds himself in the middle of the street in his neighborhood in NYC. He finds a polaroid that leads him into the subways. — The Dream Part 1 Alexx finds himself in the middle of the street in his neighborhood in NYC. He finds a polaroid that leads him into the subways.

Subconscious
Alexx reaches into his own thoughts. — Subconscious Alexx reaches into his own thoughts.

Psychiatric Ward
In his dream, Alexx finds himself underwater in his hospital. — Psychiatric Ward In his dream, Alexx finds himself underwater in his hospital.

Dream Part 2
Alexx wanders deeper and deeper through the subway stations only to find each station to be less and less recognizable. He eventually ends up at his hospital. — Dream Part 2 Alexx wanders deeper and deeper through the subway stations only to find each station to be less and less recognizable. He eventually ends up at his hospital.

The Other Alexxander
Alexx finds a copy of himself in his dream. The copy hurts him. — The Other Alexxander Alexx finds a copy of himself in his dream. The copy hurts him.

Cured
The Other Alexxander heals Alexxander. — Cured The Other Alexxander heals Alexxander.

Stains
Alexx looks down at his hands to see them covered in his own blood. Those paper sailboats he used to fold with his mother. — Stains Alexx looks down at his hands to see them covered in his own blood. Those paper sailboats he used to fold with his mother.

Another Dimension
Alexx climbs through an over-sized picture frame. — Another Dimension Alexx climbs through an over-sized picture frame.

J Train Stop
This is not what Alexx remembered the station to look like. — J Train Stop This is not what Alexx remembered the station to look like.

Dream Part 3
Alexx eventually wakes up again to find himself back at home only to discover what he has done. — Dream Part 3 Alexx eventually wakes up again to find himself back at home only to discover what he has done.

Patient No. 4833
The hospital bed he stayed in. His mother would keep a jar full of paper sailboats they’ve folded together. — Patient No. 4833 The hospital bed he stayed in. His mother would keep a jar full of paper sailboats they’ve folded together.

Field of Paper Sailboats
Alexx’s mother used to remind him, “Alexx, the more of these you fold, the more of the pain they’ll take away”. — Field of Paper Sailboats Alexx’s mother used to remind him, “Alexx, the more of these you fold, the more of the pain they’ll take away”.

To The Next Stop
Alexx takes to the sky. — To The Next Stop Alexx takes to the sky.