First Look at ARK’s Silk & Paper Cut Playing Cards

The first Kickstarter of 2023 by ARK explores the ultimate material & craft innovation. Launching on January 16th, the deck will feature never seen before silk-made card boxes and intricate paper sculptures.

The Silk edition playing cards is a Chinese-style theme deck presented in a silk-made tuck box. The design inspired by silk-related elements. Graphics with both modern elements and textile textures were created. It tells the story of the ancient Silk Road and the oriental kingdom.

Inside, the face cards are updated with Chinese-style figures holding various items, from the the sword of the Son of Heaven to the jade kyu, fly-whisk, and books and flower.

Also, some royals appear as the image of merchants, a tribute to the Silk Road: the world-famous trade route with the name of silk.

The silk element of the deck is not only reflected in the design. The tuck box itself is made of genuine silk covered with fine gold foil patterns.

The front of the box is a folding card design, listing the origins of the Silk Road and the cities along the way.

There are multiple editions available during the campaign: Standard (limited to 1,555), Black Box (limited to 888), Wooden Box (limited to 333) and Leather Box (limited to 555).

Meanwhile, the Paper Cut playing cards is inspired by the most traditional folk arts in China. The art of Paper Cut can be seen during festivals. 

To distinguish from other playing cards that depict seasons and scenery, ARK employed Paper Cut as the core style of Four Seasons and closely focus on Paper Cut in graphic design, craft, and creativity.

The illustrations of the deck are designed in a paper-cut style. All the Chinese characters in the deck are adjusted Chinese fonts in a paper-cut style as additional details.

The twelve Chinese zodiac signs correspond to the twelve court cards, each designed to be symmetrical in the central axis, reproducing the ingenuity of the fold and cut in Paper Cut art.

There are also things corresponding to the Chinese zodiac, such as the Rat and the Oil Lamp, the Monkey and the Fairy Peach, the Rooster and the Sunrise, and the Pig and the Yuan Treasure.

The details of the lines on each suit, value, and court are printed using metal ink process, interpreting the traditional cultural visual graphics and colors while further enhancing sophistication and beauty.

The Four Aces are designed as the sceneries in four seasons: Spades-Spring, Hearts- Summer, Diamonds- Autumn, and Clubs: Winter.

The Paper Cut showcase the most intricate and exquisite paper carving creative tuck box. Four major features, full of craft in every detail. The folding structure and splendid paper carving are delicately blended to achieve a stunning final outcome.

There are multiple editions available during the campaign: Standard (limited to 1,555), Hollow Box (limited to 888), Wooden Box (limited to 333) and Leather Box (limited to 555).

Pledge start at $35 on Kickstarter for the standard edition. The campaign launches on January 16th.