Painting-Ji Mi

Ji Mi's works possess a whimsical nature commonly associated with children's books and yet they have become immensely popular with adults who find them refreshing and even philosophical. Not only are his books well received in Taiwan Province, Malaysia, and Singapore; they also have been translated into German, Japanese, and English.

A childlike innocence prevails in the simple sentences and though one may be lulled into taking the books at face value, it is difficult to ignore the adult sentiments expressed in them. Undercurrents of the author's personal experiences pervade the books and always, the extraordinary are presented in the seemingly ordinary. Often, feelings of profound loneliness, confusion, and isolation are expressed in the depiction of individuals becoming lost in a vast mazelike city.

A Chance of Sunshine (Xiang Zuo Zou, Xiang You Zou) is a hopeful but cautionary tale set in the city about a man and a woman who live in the same apartment block but never meet because each has the habit of traveling in opposite directions - to the right and left respectively. The tale speaks poignantly of how much we have grown accustomed to the alienating aspects of modern city life and offers the chance for change.

On the surface, A Smiling Fish (Wei Xiao De Yu) is about a man who has bought a fish but in truth, it is about an individual trapped and helpless in circumstances beyond his control.

Author:Ivana

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