Growing Up
Entry for the Original Illustration Exhibition of Chen Bochui International Children's Literature Award 2022
The illustrations of the Growing Up series were inspired by a cute bag charm in the form of a seagull that the artist owns herself, as well as by the speed and impermanence of life.
The series consists of three illustrations which show the life of a small bird named Stan, the bag charm.
In the first illustration Stan is a baby hanging peacefully in a shop window. Life is quiet and slow, nothing much happens in his small world surrounded by the glass of the shop windows. He feels cosy and relaxed observing the world around him at a distance from his warm safe place.
The second illustration shows Stan flying happily hanging to a yellow handbag. All his dreams have come true, he has been adopted by a nice young lady who takes him with her everywhere she goes. Stan travels the world, sees all the beautiful nature, meets all kinds of people and enjoys his life to the fullest.
In illustration 3 Stan is lying in the corner of the room under a chair abandoned by his owner. She has grown up and bought a new bag charm to match her new handbag. Stan seems too childish and old to her at the same time. His life is quiet and slow again, nothing much is happening in his small world in the dusty corner under the chair.
