11.28.2010

Book Beauty Monday : Jimmy Liao's Don't Blame Me, It's Not My Fault.

One night years ago, my dad knocked at my door and came in with a Chinese newspaper in his hand. He always did that whenever he found interesting articles about art or design. That night the article was about a Taiwanese illustrator, Jimmy Liao

Don't blame me, it's not my fault.

Jimmy Liao is pretty famous in picture book world. His books are translated into several languages along with products featuring his illustrated characters. The most famous title must be A Chance of Sunshine which was made into a film called Turn Left, Turn Right

Strangely enough though, apart from A Chance of Sunshine and a few other books, it's quite difficult to get English version of his books. I wonder why...

Don't blame me, it's not my fault.

Don't blame me, it's not my fault.

Don't blame me, it's not my fault.

As for this book, I cannot read Chinese so I have no idea what the whole book is about. But pictures usually work as universal language. You can enjoy the beauty of his illustrations even though you don't know its meaning. It's a pity that I cannot find Thai version or even English one of this book because Liao also has a reputation for composing words that reflect human's mind in his own beautiful style.

Don't blame me, it's not my fault.

Don't blame me, it's not my fault.

Don't blame me, it's not my fault.

Don't blame me, it's not my fault.

When you look at these lovely images, what words come to your mind? Cute, colorful, whimsical, imaginative or melancholy? The last word seems contradictory to others but that is what I, and many of his fans, I believe, think when we look at his work. And that makes his illustration so unique. How come such cute, bright and colorful pictures can give me such feeling of sadness? I don't know but we have to accept that the world is not always full of happiness after all...

Don't blame me, it's not my fault.

Don't blame me, it's not my fault.

11 comments:

  1. oh these are wonderful illustrations.
    I ordered the cookbook for my kids and am really looking forward to receiving it (and then hiding till the 25.12) :)

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  2. Wow, amazing illustrations! Thanks for sharing! :)

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  3. That book looks awesome, what fantastic illustrations!

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  4. What a wonderful book. I can guarantee that my kids would love to look through those sorts of books.

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  5. That's one thing that I miss now that my kids are grown. Beautiful illustrations. I'm loving the color and the whimsy.

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  6. oo, what gorgeous illustrations. I see what you mean about the combo of sadness and whimsy. beautiful.

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  7. These are all so lovely..I think of adventure and friendship..fun,fear and imagination...Thanks for sharing them!!Hugs,Cat

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  8. what wonderful pictures...my granddaughter would love them!!

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  9. so nice for you to share Jimmy Liao's poetic books I also own a book by him called Sound of Colours. It's sort of lonely and the illustrations are beautiful.

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  10. it felt agonizing to see all his books at the taipei airport and not one was in english! so i bought his jigsaw puzzles instead. i actually just finished his "chance of sunshine" puzzle ornament for our christmas tree. :)

    how lovely that he has a new book!

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