We've made an illustrated version of the Chinese classic of poetic philosophy, TAO TE CHING.
We being myself (hi, its me!) and Hong Kong artist living in the UK, Cary Kwok. He is a professional artist of long standing who has exhibited all over the place, but this is his first comic book style collaboration. Exciting!
Based on translations of the esteemed William Scott Wilson who for his more than 40 years of work has rightly received the Order of the Rising Sun from that well known anarchist the Japanese emperor.
Not forgetting the important contribution of Ben Dickson who lettered the right side pages - a much underrated skill.
This book is unusual in that its the first of my books that is not really a comic book (despite the publisher labelling it as a graphic novel for marketing reasons). It features Bill’s translations of each of the 81 poem-passages of the Tao Te Ching book on each left side page of the book and a visual/textual interpretation by myself and Cary on each right side page. So its really a collection of 81 double page text and art spreads. Each sets some aspect of the poem-passage on the left in a modern setting and/or a timeless interpretation on the right, with new text by me and wonderful illustrations by Cary. With such an ancient and poetic classic, the subject of analysis for more than 2000 years, there is bound to be people who think our efforts here are way off the 'correct' Tao. But that's ok... ours is just one more look at it. One I’m very happy with.
“This bold, visually surprising, and completely unique interpretation of the Tao Te Ching—the poetic classic that is the philosophical and religious basis of Taoism—brings its teachings into a modern light in a completely fresh way. Each of the 81 poem-passages of the Tao Te Ching is reinterpreted by award-winning graphic novel writer Sean Michael Wilson and brought to life by the artful illustrations of London-based artist Cary Kwok, who sets the text in various historical and contemporary scenes to bring out the modern relevance—in ways that are both unsparing and hopeful.”
Check it very much out on my page HERE