That City

「I've decided to leave this place,
not because of fear,
but because I'm afraid I'll no longer understand fear in the future.」

Wong Chiu-tat, cartoonist for Ming Pao's literary supplement in Hong Kong
52 thought-provoking political images
in a graphic design style, with text combinations like experimental poetry
dedicated to the "That City" that can no longer be returned to

　　※Special invitation※
　　Hong Kong writer Tang Siu Wa – Exclusive recommendation
　　Paper Travel – Tang Yuk – Design lead

　　The "That City" comic series features political cartoons by Hong Kong cartoonist Justin Wong, which were serialized in the "Sunday Life" column of Ming Pao's literary supplement from 2020 to 2021. Originally titled "This City," Wong Chiu-tat used his drawings to satirize various current events in Hong Kong. However, after the implementation of the National Security Law on July 1, 2020, visual imagery became more prone to causing trouble than text, so the column was renamed "That City." In 2021, Wong Chiu-tat was reported and had to urgently leave Hong Kong, relocating to London. This comic series thus became his farewell work to the land of Hong Kong.

　　The book "THAT CITY" compiles 52 cartoons from its serialization period, with themes revolving around Hong Kong's recent political situation, civic consciousness, social atmosphere, and daily life affected by the National Security Law and the Covid-19 pandemic. The book contains mourning for the Hong Kong that has passed in people's hearts, accusations against ubiquitous surveillance, warnings against numbness and indifference, and warmth for the people of Hong Kong.

　　Wong Chiu-tat's cartoon style is deeply influenced by American cartoonist Chris Ware, excelling at conceptualizing comic layouts using graphic design and geometric arrangements. Although it discusses political issues, it is not sharply critical. Instead, it uses abstract and minimalist imagery, playful and experimental compositions, and poetic, philosophical, and humorous text to try and leave more room for readers to think. One can feel the unspoken defiance, subtle struggles, and silent protests of Hongkongers, making for a deeply poignant read.

　　【Excerpts】
　　「Walk along the city's coastline, trace its shape from memory. Take a deep breath, fill it with decades of memories. Announce loudly on FB: 'I will continue to log in.' Find a corner at the airport, and wait for the city to bid farewell to me.」——Vol. 7 〈If one day you have to bid farewell to this city〉

　　「I decided to deceive myself... I paid a large group of actors and celebrities to lie to me. I wore a few more layers of clothes so that no one would notice my longing for the west. I made a cage for myself, to make me feel safe and warm. Before going to bed, I took off my eyes, so that I wouldn't see myself in my dreams.」——Vol. 8 〈I decided to deceive myself〉

　　「I feel sorry for you, I feel sorry for the world, but I also want to thank you. Although you won, we did not fail. You led us into a dark, narrow tunnel, but we understood more about darkness.」——Vol. 24 〈To 2020〉

　　「I am a first-class citizen, and there is no fear in my world. I am a second-class citizen, I can fly bravely. I am a third-class citizen, I gently refuse darkness. I am a fourth-class citizen, I issue warnings to the world. I am a fifth-class citizen, I look into the eyes of my monitors every day. I am a sixth-class citizen, I learn to sleep with my eyes open.」——Vol. 30 〈X-Class Citizen〉

　　「Here, so-called absurdity has no place. Night is still night, and day will still be day. This is no longer where we chase dreams, because we are already living in a dream.」——Vol. 33 〈Welcome to this city〉
　　
　　「I choose to be chosen by others. I choose to be wrong. I choose not to choose.」——Vol. 38 〈I choose to choose〉

Celebrity Recommendations

　　Li Xue-li (Editor-in-chief of The Reporter)
　　Wu Rwei-ren (Associate Research Fellow, Institute of Taiwan History, Academia Sinica)
　　Freddy Lim (Legislator)
　　Liu Kwong-shing (Comic Artist)
　　Chen Yi-ching (Host of "Adult Comics Club")
　　Nathan Law (Former Hong Kong Legislator)
　　——Jointly Recommended

　　「The first step in confronting authoritarianism is to prevent memory from being brutally rewritten, and to strive to preserve words and images, so that they are not forgotten by the world.」——Li Xue-li (Editor-in-chief of The Reporter)

　　「That city is my city. Freedom has become an illusion. So we hide tomorrow's message in images, resisting fear with art.」——Wu Rwei-ren (Associate Research Fellow, Institute of Taiwan History, Academia Sinica)

　　「The simple, abstract art style portrays the inexpressible melancholy of Hongkongers; it's simple, warm, yet incredibly sad.」——Freddy Lim (Legislator)

　　「Let's see the migration from this city to that city, and then to the sound source—what meaning will that city be given when the work is imbued with a diasporic context.」——Liu Kwong-shing (Hong Kong Comic Artist)

　　「Warning: From 'This City' to 'That City,' this is a farewell letter to Hong Kong, enough to break hearts.」——Chen Yi-ching (Host of Adult Comics Club)

　　「Because of all the harsh trials and persecutions, we get to see Wong Chiu-tat's works: hand-drawn, poetic and leaping, delicate yet complex. Fine brushstrokes, simple and subtle, full of sadness. That city, my city. A Hong Kong we cannot approach, cannot let go of.」——Tang Siu Wa (Hong Kong Writer)

　　「From my city to that city, from bitterness to sweetness, Chiu-tat's resilient and powerful images reflect the imagination of Hong Kong's democracy and freedom. We need creative people like him to inspire the future.」——Nathan Law (Former Hong Kong Legislator)

2022-12-03

大塊文化

108

9786267206454