Jimmy, a cartoonist from Taiwan
The time I came crossed his drawing began three years ago, the time I just entered into the university. No sooner had I seen it I couldn’t move my eyes from his drawing. Not like what many cartoonists did, he drew more works reflecting the life and thinking of people dwelling in the city.
The first book I'd like to mention here, drawn by him, was “You Jimo You Meihao”. In this book the cartoonist showed us the fragility and uncertainty of life through images of the lonely little boy, pretty bird, quiet forest, the moon and stars, and so forth. It was heard, during the period he drew these pictures, he had blood cancer.
I can’t believe and imagine how the drawer was when the first time I saw his drawing. It was full of loneliness and melancholy. Meanwhile, it described the beauty of nature and people. It touched my heart and concealed the feeling that had puzzled me for a long time.
In one picture, a little kid, wearing thick, long scarf, squatted in the vast grass, surrounded by some hats floating in the air. On the background of the boundless sky and the grey grass, he seemed so lonely and helpless. Beside the picture, Jimmy said: I wanted all the magicians to come and bring all the lonely people here with the kid/but later the wind blew them away/ only did the hats of the magicians float in the air….
In another one, a pretty little girl with longs hairs hugged one big bird, which showed the precious feeling of interdependence. Beside that, Jimmy said: I had doubted my skills drawing pictures, but now I don’t. I began to know I myself could indeed draw something…….
In fact, For me, I felt exactly the same way. When looking at the picture, I felt I could even touch the big bird’s beautiful feather and the cute girl’s curly long hairs. They are so lifelike and impressive. Till today, I still could rememer the bird, so big a bird, like home…….
For then on, I began to pay more attention to Jimmy and his works, including those I had met before. Someone said his drawing style is one kind of European style, which hence resulted in his success both in Taiwan and mainland. Personally, I don’t know exactly how’s European style like. I am an outsider. The reason I like Jimmy is pretty simple,just because they could touch me.
Under his paintbrush, people(always shown through back), the city and people living in it were shown in a different way from what we usually see in daily life. They are more dramatic and lovely. In reality being ill and lonely could be unbearable, but in his picture, they look beautiful, pitiful but beautiful.
After his recovery, Jimmy’s works were much brighter and less tragic-styled, concerning the theme, like “di xia tie(metro)” and “xiang zuo zou, xiang you zou (Turn left, Turn Right)”. He began to concern love, friendship, those everlasting feelings in the world. The world began to be colorous rather than black and white.
Although the background was always being in the city and the melody was very similar, melancholy namely, the pictures were different every time. Believe it or not, whenever I saw them I could say nothing but admire his high skills.
In his picture there always had something that could touch me. But if you asked what it was, I whereas couldn’t tell. Here, the friends on this forum, I don’t know how many of you have paid attention to him and his works. So, if you happened to have seen them before and were fond of them, could you tell me what it was?
The following are some pictures drawn by Jimmy.
P.S: The book"You Jimo You Meihao" is Jimmy's latest published book, the drawing itself, however, was drawn long time ago.
