Jimmy LIAOPost date：2023-11-27
Updates：2023-11-27
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- Event Time
- 2023-11-25~2023-12-30Tue. - Sat. 11:00-19:00
- Event Location
- B1, No. 88, Yanchang Rd., Xinyi Dist., Taipei City Taiwan, R.O.C
Jimmy LIAO is a globally celebrated picture book artist with a lifelong passion for drawing. Following his graduation from the Fine Arts Department at the Chinese Culture University, he embarked on a career in an advertising agency. It was here that he cultivated a deep interest in illustration, leading him to extensively self-study various illustration techniques and picture book art. Jimmy believes picture books should transcend children's literature. He is committed to crafting picture books that appeal to all ages, effectively pioneering a novel genre of picture books tailored for adults. For over two decades, Jimmy has authored over 60 works. His creations have reached a global audience, translated into 20 languages and resulting in nearly 200 international editions. His works have found life beyond the page—they have been adapted into musicals, TV dramas, movies, animations, and VR interactive experiences. Furthermore, Jimmy has showcased his talent at prestigious events like the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale and the Northern Alps Art Festival in Japan. His three-dimensional art pieces are also a common sight in public art installations and theme parks, both in his home country and abroad.
Similar to his picture books, Jimmy's oil paintings, though singular images, are imbued with an abundance of imagination and narrative depth. In these paintings, there's typically just a single boy or girl, set against diverse backdrops: a beautiful flower garden, a deep, enigmatic forest, a coast with gentle waves, or even a dry, leaf-covered swimming pool. The expressions on the children's faces are subtly nuanced—some have their eyes shut, as if lost in a sleepwalk, others look out with a curious, inquisitive gaze, and some have the stark, white faces of mime actors. These figures echo what psychologists refer to as the "inner child", that childlike aspect that persists within adults. Jimmy is convinced that everyone confronts life's complexity and challenges in this solitary, introspective manner.
The starting piece of this solo exhibition is Let's Play Together. In this work, a little boy with closed eyes is depicted stepping on a red ball on a winding forest path, near a miniature house from which white smoke rises. The forest is rendered in richly colored tree trunks, engendering a vivid and lively visual experience. A Flower Descends from the Sky sees a little girl in a swimsuit holding a fish tank, standing at the edge of a leaf-strewn swimming pool; a camellia blossoms atop her head, symbolizing hope and liveliness. Dancing Elephant, the largest painting in the exhibition, shows an elephant under a spotlight, its body a kaleidoscope of colors, performing circus acts alongside children. Although the theme of solitude is prevalent in Jimmy's artwork, viewers can unmistakably sense the warmth emanating from within. Above all, they portray a subtle yet brave stance toward life's ups and downs.
Similar to his picture books, Jimmy's oil paintings, though singular images, are imbued with an abundance of imagination and narrative depth. In these paintings, there's typically just a single boy or girl, set against diverse backdrops: a beautiful flower garden, a deep, enigmatic forest, a coast with gentle waves, or even a dry, leaf-covered swimming pool. The expressions on the children's faces are subtly nuanced—some have their eyes shut, as if lost in a sleepwalk, others look out with a curious, inquisitive gaze, and some have the stark, white faces of mime actors. These figures echo what psychologists refer to as the "inner child", that childlike aspect that persists within adults. Jimmy is convinced that everyone confronts life's complexity and challenges in this solitary, introspective manner.
The starting piece of this solo exhibition is Let's Play Together. In this work, a little boy with closed eyes is depicted stepping on a red ball on a winding forest path, near a miniature house from which white smoke rises. The forest is rendered in richly colored tree trunks, engendering a vivid and lively visual experience. A Flower Descends from the Sky sees a little girl in a swimsuit holding a fish tank, standing at the edge of a leaf-strewn swimming pool; a camellia blossoms atop her head, symbolizing hope and liveliness. Dancing Elephant, the largest painting in the exhibition, shows an elephant under a spotlight, its body a kaleidoscope of colors, performing circus acts alongside children. Although the theme of solitude is prevalent in Jimmy's artwork, viewers can unmistakably sense the warmth emanating from within. Above all, they portray a subtle yet brave stance toward life's ups and downs.
