The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye

Posted on 04 September 2018 by Sonny Liew

The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye is a biography showcasing the life and work of Chan Hock Chye, a pioneering but largely forgotten comics artist in Singapore With a career spanning than five decades, from pre independent Singapore through its three Prime Ministers, Chan s work reflects the changing political and economic environment in Singapore.Containing Chan s original illustrations, paintings and sketches, this is a groundbreaking work and labour of love aimed at recapturing the portrait of an artist, whose deep passion for comics and country is given a fitting tribute by award winning comics artist Sonny Liew.3 Eisner Awards 2017 Best U.S Edition of International Material AsiaBest Writer ArtistBest Publication DesignOther Eisner Award 2017 Nominations Best Graphic Album NewBest ColoringBest LetteringWinner of the Singapore Literature Prize 2016 for English FictionA New York Times bestsellerAn Economist Book of the Year 2016An NPR Graphic Novel Pick for 2016A Washington Post Best Graphic Novel of 2016A New York Post Best Books of 2016A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2016A South China Morning Post Top 10 Asian books of 2016An A.V Club Best Comics of 2016A Comic Books Resources Top 100 Comics of 2016A Mental Floss Most Interesting Graphic Novel of 2016Winner of the Singapore Book Awards 2016 for Book of the Year and Best Book Cover Design Read The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye Author Sonny Liew – kino-fada.fr I literally could not put this book down.I devoured it, messily, poring through the pages, lifting up my glasses to peer closely with long sighted age at the details, flipping back and forth, forward and back in time, chuckling at the quiet humour, marveling at the subtle and not so subtle homages to style and history, raising it to look at it this way, then that way, at the multifaceted piece of work it is, knowing that repeated readings would throw up evenlayers If you re a comic book I literally could not put this book down.I devoured it, messily, poring through the pages, lifting up my glasses to peer closely with long sighted age at the details, flipping back and forth, forward and back in time, chuckling at the quiet humour, marveling at the subtle and not so subtle homages to style and history, raising it to look at it this way, then that way, at the multifaceted piece of work it is, knowing that repeated readings would throw up evenlayers If you re a comic book reader, you feel this book as much as you read it, and you can see the heart and mind of the artist, fictional and real, laid if not quite bare, then at least sufficiently ajar before you There is an aura here, the sense of nostalgia, the yearning of a history that never was as well as the timeline that Chan lived through, and an ever present yearning for things not done, paths not taken, goals never...A kind of amazing fictional biography of a Singapore comics artist, Charlie Chan Hock Chye, that is in part a story of twentieth century Singapore, and in part a study of comics Part of that study of comics has to do with the relationships between western and Asian comics, and how they mutually influence d each other This big, impressive book employees a very inventive approach, with an amazing range of comics styles representing different periods Eisner award nominated Especially A kind of amazing fictional biography of a Singapore comics artist, Charlie Chan Hock Chye, that is in...Hands down my most enjoyable Singapore literature read ever I m glad I know pretty much every historical detail regarding Singapore in this book I don t think I d enjoy the book less if I was unfamiliar with the context it did feel like an info dump at times , b...I was one of those who bought the book because the National Arts Council withdrew its publication grant But then I found myself with a truly masterful piece of work as someone who doesn t usually read graphic novels I was introduced to a whole new mode of visual storytelling, combining a variety of styles, tones and feels It s not often that Singaporeans get to see our history and the rapid transformation of our city played out in such detail and depth It s not often that we get to think I was one of those who bought the book because the National Arts Council withdrew its publication grant But then I found myself with a truly masterful piece of work as someone who doesn t usually read graphic novels I was introduced to a whole new mode of visual storytelling, combining a variety of styles, tones and feels It s not often that Singaporeans get to see o...For graphic artists, there are must reads of the genre that direct the eye to advances in the art, and Sonny Liew s contribution may well be one of those Liew shows us many types of comic book art, discusses their genesis and early creators, but also seamlessly melds the story of an artist, Charlie Chan Hock Chye, with the story of the political and economic development of Singapore It is a masterful work of enormous depth and sensitivity that answers questions I d had when contemplating the For graphic artists, there are must reads of the genre that direct the eye to advances in the art, and Sonny Liew s contribution may well be one of those Liew shows us many types of comic book art, discusses their genesis and early creators, but also seamlessly melds the story of an artist, Charlie Chan Hock Chye, with the story of the political and economic development of Singapore It is a masterful work of enormous depth and sensitivity that answers questions I d had when contemplating the entwined histories of Singapore and Malaya.I really went down the rabbit hole with this work because it has so many l...A biography of the artist as a hero, The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye is full of swagger even as it pays tribute to its comics predecessors The virtuosic display of different comics styles, the mind boggling meta meta meta narratives, the political satire The result is an astounding feat, which sets a high bar not only for Singapore comics, but also for Singapore fiction Yet much remains familiar Singapore history may be re interpreted but its periodization is not challenged The reading of A biography of the artist as a hero, The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye is full of swagger even as it pays tribute to its comics predecessors The virtuosic display of different comics styles, the mind boggling meta meta meta narratives, the political satire The result is an astounding feat, which sets a high bar not only for Singapore comics, but also for Singapore fiction Yet much remains familiar Singapore history may be re interpreted but its periodization is not challenged The readi...Th best local history book and the magic heightens when it was reported that Charlie Chan was a fictional character Clever way to educating one of Singapore s history and it leaves you to form your own opinion of the events that have carved Singapore s past I am in awe of Sonny ...Brilliant and subversively educational I sometimes feel like Singapore is gaslighting me This book suggests that I m neither insane nor alone.Phenomenal Truly an impressive achievement Very very highly recommended.This was kind of nuts An incredible oeuvre and a tour de force The fictional biography of hypothetical Singaporean artist Charlie Chan becomes a lens through which Malay cartoonist Sonny Lieu is able to explore the history and development of post war Singapore in a truly unique manner a series of period comic homages Liew s artistry and storytelling prowess is on full display he executes picture perfect parodies of every art style from pulp science fiction to Pogo to Little Nemo, MAD This was kind of nuts An...

English
04 September 2018

Sonny Liew