On the Steppes of Dreams

Co-published with HKU Libraries
On the Steppes of Dreams is the latest collection of ‘dreamscapes’ by Basil Pao. Designed as a companion piece to his previous book Carnival of Dreams (2023) - which chronicled, from his first album cover and early cut & paste collages to the current CGI enhanced digital images of his photomontage work over a period of 50 years. The new book completes the circle and concludes the story of his surrealist/magic-realism imagery with a chapter of tributes to the group of artists who had inspired and influenced his work. The book is also intended as a celebration and a momento for the 100th anniversary of Surrealism.

In his introduction, Terry Gilliam wrote: “His stunningly beautiful composite images surprise us by combining opposites, juxtaposing unlikely imagery and ideas that ask questions, make us smile, make us think, releasing us from the rigid restrictions of Reason. The portal is in your hands. Turn the page and float off into Basil’s endless universe of wondrous possibilities.”

Basil Pao was an art director in New York and Los Angeles, where he first worked with Michael Palin while designing the book and graphics for the Monty Python film Life of Brian. They have since collaborated on 11 illustrated books based on the BBC travel series: Pole to Pole, Full Circle, Hemingway Adventure, Sahara, Himalaya, New Europe and Brazil. He is the author of 22 other books of photographs including: Hands, China Revealed, Yi’Jing-Book of Changes, Bhutan, Shan’Shui, A Tale of Two Ventures, The Universal Scream, OM - Ordinary Moments+, Carnival of Dreams and The Last Emperor Revisited.