Beyond the Soft Power

Zooming in details of the book on the wooden chopping block with blue-tone front cover fully decorated by embossed wave motifs; a metal tag written ‘Beyond the Soft Power’ embossed in capital letters; text-block is red. A metal ring attached on side of the wooden chopping block. A hand opening the book. Zooming in its deformed spine.

Next page painted by blue brushstrokes written LÊ THANH NGUYÊN PHƯƠNG at top, BEYOND The Soft Power in the middle, HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM, 2019 at the bottom.

Next page is painted by blue brushstrokes.

Next page, on a grid of blue horizontal lines written ‘atelier Le Petit Toucher/All rights reserved/Published 2019/Lê Thanh Nguyên Phương/BEYOND THE SOFT POWER.

Next page, on a blue area written ‘What is soft is strong/Lao Tzu-Chinese philosopher (604BC-531BC)’ and Braille transcription following.

Next page written ‘THE DRAGON’S HIDDEN WINGS’ in gold, some alphabet letters in a copper painted band, Braille written in a gold painted band. Some red colour pencil strokes.

Next page written ‘CHINA ORDERS THE WORLD’ in gold, some alphabet letters in a copper painted band, Braille written in a gold painted band. Some red colour pencil strokes.

Next page written ‘THE NEW PUBLIC DIPLOMACY’ in gold, some alphabet letters in a copper painted band, Braille written in a gold painted band. Some red colour pencil strokes.

Next page written ‘SOFT POWER’ in gold, some alphabet letters in a copper painted band, Braille written in a gold painted band. Some red colour pencil strokes.

Next page written ‘MEDIATION IN POLITICAL CONFLICTS’ in gold, some alphabet letters in a copper painted band, Braille written in a gold painted band. Some red colour pencil strokes.

Next page written ‘The FUTURE of POWER’ in gold, Braille written in a gold painted band. Some red colour pencil strokes.

Next page written ‘STRUCTURE AUDIENCE and SOFT POWER in EAST ASIAN POP CULTURE’ in orange, Braille written in an orange painted band. Some orange colour pencil strokes.

Next page written ‘SOFT POWER in JAPAN-CHINA RELATIONS’ in orange, some alphabet letters in a fuchsia painted band, Braille written in an orange painted band. Some yellow colour pencil strokes.

Next page written ‘CHINA’S AID and SOFT POWER in AFRICA’ in orange, some alphabet letters in a fuchsia painted band, Braille written in an orange painted band. Some yellow colour pencil strokes.

Next page written ‘SOFT POWER AND FREEDOM UNDER THE COALITION’ in orange, some alphabet letters in a fuchsia painted band, Braille written in an orange painted band. Some yellow colour pencil strokes.

Next page written ‘HARD POWER SOFT POWER and THE FUTURE of TRANSATLANTIC RELATIONS’ in orange, Braille written in an orange painted band. Some yellow colour pencil strokes.

Next page written ‘The BIG STICK’ in red, some alphabet letters in a gold painted band, Braille written in a fuchsia painted band. Some red colour pencil strokes.

Next page written ‘BOLLYWOOD BOOM’ in red, some alphabet letters in a gold painted band, Braille written in a fuchsia painted band. Some red colour pencil strokes.

Next page written ‘CHINA’S SOFT POWER DIPLOMACY in SOUTH ASIA’ in red, some alphabet letters in a gold painted band, Braille written in a fuchsia painted band. Some red colour pencil strokes.

Next page written ‘RESEARCH OUTLINE FOR CHINA’S CULTURAL SOFT POWER’ in red, Braille written in a fuchsia painted band. Some red colour pencil strokes.

Attached pages .

Next page written ‘JAPANESE LANGUAGE and SOFT POWER in ASIA’ in red, Braille written in a fuchsia painted band. Some red colour pencil strokes.

Next page written ‘PEACE CORPS AND CITIZEN DIPLOMACY’ in red, some alphabet letters in a gold painted band, Braille written in a fuchsia painted band. Some red colour pencil strokes.

Attached pages.

Next page written ‘HONG KONG SOFT POWER’ in red, some alphabet letters in a gold painted band, Braille written in a fuchsia painted band. Some red colour pencil strokes.

Next page written ‘The SOFT POWER of the RUSSIAN LANGUAGE’ in red, some alphabet letters in a gold painted band, Braille written in a fuchsia painted band. Some red&yellow colour pencil strokes.

Next page written ‘HOW TO BE A GENTLEWOMAN’ in red, some alphabet letters in a gold painted band, Braille written in a fuchsia painted band. Some red colour pencil strokes.

Blank pages.

Inside of back cover, artist’s signature and date written ‘10.2019’ in blue ink.

Closing the book.