Autobiographical motifs in the "silent books" of contemporary Chinese artists (using the example of Sean Tan and Guojin)

The object of the study is “silent books” – books without text; the plot and author’s position are revealed exclusively through a sequential series of illustrations. The subject of the study is the graphic novels of young but already internationally recognized authors – Sean Tan and Guojin. "Silent books" are a relatively new direction in children's book illustration. The prototype of “silent books” – comics – was distinguished by rather primitive graphics, so although they were popular, but they were considered a “low genre” in the professional community. Then the comic went beyond kitsch culture and became an element of middle-class culture, and at the end of the century the comic was reinterpreted in pop art and included in the formation of neo-elite culture. The individuality of the authors is manifested in the choice of a plot related to personal and family history, as well as in the choice of a character of a certain psychological make-up – “silent heroes”, endowed with a rich imagination, the ability to empathize and equal friendly relationships. The technique in the “silent books” of Sean Tan and Guojin has the syncretism and dualism of Western and Chinese traditions. It can be interpreted both in terms of Chinese writing with “dry” ink, and in the European style of “chiaroscuro”; in all cases we had clearly defined contour and a sharp contrast of light and shadow. The author's self-expression in a graphic novel is very specific to book illustration. “The Quiet Book” can be considered as a special type of author’s utterance, similar to improperly direct speech in literature. All this distinguishes the graphic novels under consideration from other forms of children's book illustration, as an example of new paths in art, as well as an original and modern interpretation of social problems of society.

illustrations, Chinese artists, quiet books, Sean Tan, Guojin, children's book illustration, author's books, artist, visual images, The main characters