BHOOMI Playing Cards. The organic beauty of our planet captured in a deck
Our planet is the silent stage where all existence unfolds. From the unyielding firmness of the rocky bedrock to the delicate leaf reaching for the sunlight, the Earth is a living organism full of contrasts. A Sanskrit term that refers to our world and gives its name to this deep connection between humanity and the ground that sustains it: BHOOMI.
Regular readers of the blog are already well acquainted with Bivas Bhattacharjee (Old Gravity). It is a privilege to see how his creativity continues to mature with each new proposal. After immersing ourselves in the symbolism of Open Secrets and the epic scale of Chakravyuh, Bivas began an ambitious collection based on the elements with Orion Playing Cards. We felt the scorching heat of Agni, we let ourselves be carried away by the fluidity of Jal, and in this fifth adventure, we return to our roots to step firmly on the Earth.
To understand the magnitude of this work, it is essential to look at its manufacturing technique. The entire deck—from the smallest pip to the most ornate card back—shares exactly the same strokes and geometric art across its two editions. The secret of its transformation lies in a sophisticated printing process. On a metallic foil base, inks with different levels of transparency are applied. This generates a spectacular selective shine: while the earthy backgrounds remain opaque and matte, the floral and organic details let the metal’s reflection shine through, shimmering dynamically as the cards are handled.
This visual philosophy begins on the card backs. The design is an intricate symmetrical composition of the Tree of Life, where roots, trunks, and vines intertwine, capturing the vibrant awakening of the Earth’s surface.
This unified canvas provides us with astonishing faces. Leaving traditional royalty behind, the court cards present a multicultural cast that pays homage to those who have shaped our relationship with the environment, including ancient scholars like Eratosthenes, persevering Asian farmers, tireless miners, and mystical figures from folklore.
The visual narrative continues in the aces, illustrated as imposing natural structures, such as the sturdy oak of the spades or the crystalline formation of the diamonds.
This theme reaches all the way to the numbered cards, where the classic suit symbols have been reimagined as tiny Trees of Life full of branching, resting on matte canvases full of organic textures.
The campaign offers us four decks in total, divided into two visual themes that explore both faces of the planet, each presented in a Standard version and an exclusive limited Gilded (metallic edges) version. Both editions boast tuck boxes with extreme sculptural embossing that invites you to feel the textures of bark and stone.
On the one hand, the BLOOM edition captures the blossoming of the surface. Its palette floods the common design with emerald greens, vivid forest browns, and a dazzling gold that simulates sunlight filtering through leaves. The Standard Bloom version offers this spring outburst, while the Gilded Bloom version raises the stakes with a much more luxurious alternative tuck box and solid pure gold metallic edges.
On the opposite end, we find the ROOTS edition, an immersion into the darkness and resilience of the subsoil. Keeping the exact same drawings, the colors radically transform into deep umber tones, dark wood, and silver flashes that evoke the light of a cavern. The Standard Roots version plunges us into this stoic atmosphere, and its Gilded Roots counterpart completes the experience with another exclusively designed tuck box and spectacular industrial copper metallic edges.
To crown the project, the creators have designed a commemorative coin enameled in emerald green and gold, highlighting the tree of life and the Sanskrit motto that underpins the entire deck: the idea that the whole world is one single family.
Only 48 hours left before the campaign closes its doors, so if you don’t want to miss out on this organic work of art, do not hesitate to visit the project website and make your pledge.
Good luck!
