Pao Houa Her monograph receives AIGA 50 Books | 50 Covers award

My grandfather turned into a tiger…and other illusions by Pao Houa Her

Pao Houa Her’s first major monograph, My grandfather turned into a tiger…and other illusions, has been selected as one of the winners of the 2024 AIGA 50 Books | 50 Covers global competition. Published by Aperture after Her received the 2023-24 Next Step Award, the publication explores notions of home, constructions of memory and homeland, and the experiences of Hmong diasporic communities. The monograph includes reproductions of works from several of Her’s photographic series, as well as written contributions from Godfre Leung, Kong Pheng Pha, Mai Der Vang, and Kao Kalia Yang. The text also features a conversation between Her and art historian Audrey Sands.

Now in its 100th year, the AIGA 50 Books | 50 Covers competition honors the best-designed books and book covers each year. My grandfather turned into a tiger…and other illusions received an award in the book category. Designed by Alex Lin, Noah Beckwith, and Hannes Drißner, the book is available with 32 distinct covers, trimmed out of a large banner based on a backdrop used in many of Her’s artworks.

The honored publications will enter the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Columbia University’s Butler Library.