Life Is Made Up Of Funny Little Things And Only The Lucky Ones Can Feel—Hong Kong Accomplished Comic Artist Maggie Lau


15-05-20

Comic books are a reflection of the happy and the sad. They also mirror the good and the bad. Comic artists tell you how they feel about the world by their characters. Mickey Mouse is happy and good. The boys of South Park are happy but bad. Spider-Man is sad but good. The Joker is sad and bad.

I love the comic work of a Hong Kong artist Maggie Lau. Her comics are in the simple and short form of 2 to 4 sequential juxtaposed panels which depict funny scenes. Panels are accompanied by descriptive narrative and dialogue. The characters are often modeled after Maggie, her husband and 2 children. Her comics are not abstract, alternative, violent or romantic. The stories are sweet, witty and positive. They are mostly based on observations on the daily life of the author as a ‘full-time’ housewife. To give you an example: a boy told his mother that he was ranked the first place in class. She asked, “For the best performance?” The son said, “For the worst performance.”

Maggie said, “I am an ordinary person who enjoys an uneventful life. When humble and satisfied, I can view the beauty of a world made up of funny little things that I, being the lucky one, can have the luxury of joy to appreciate.”

“I have grown up with my readers. They are my age or slightly younger. Now, their kids are my fans too,” she smiled. A skill is something taught. A talent is an inborn ability. The ability to draw came naturally for Maggie when she was a girl. Her father however said, “No matter if you are talented or not, drawing shall never become your career because it is hardly an income-bearing business!” At university, Maggie studied textile. She found an office job in 1990. Computers then started to change the world and the idea of a ‘blog’, the personal online homepage of a computer user, became popular. In the late 90s, Maggie created her comic blog and her works became well known in Hong Kong. She ventured to design a ‘flash game’, which was a big hit in the 90s, called ‘Hong Kong-style cafe’. The game required you to cook local fast food for customers as fast as you could. Sure of her success, Maggie quitted her job and became a professional comic artist. The series of comic books about a female character Mag who was critical of the little things happening at home and in life was quite an accomplishment. Maggie’s startling career began from then on.

I asked Maggie, “Where do your inspirations come from?” Maggie, graceful and pleasant, said, “I always carry a notebook. I observe. When my wild pulse detects anything funny. I jot several things down in my notebook and they will turn to be my short stories.”

I asked again, “Do you plan to write a long story, or try something new and exciting?” Maggie replied, “No, I am easy. Nothing is worth doing unless it does not mean pain or difficulty. Failing to plan is not planning to fail. One can do whatever she wants when she is a single girl. My life has become different after I get married and take responsibility for it. I am a housewife and want to be a good mother. My ambition is no longer to sail around the world or be the top dog in the field. I enjoy what I have. For me, success is incidental or accidental.”

I can feel Maggie’s resolute adherence to her belief. So, I changed the subject. I said, “Any advice for a budding comic artist?” Maggie nodded her head, “To ensure continuation and progression, irrespective of any income or not, is the most important thing for a young artist. Just keep on drawing! You do it for your passion or interest, and not for money or success. Do believe in a fate that may simply fall on you. But, when something unfolds, do not walk away from it. Take it up and do well!”

The true beauty in a woman is reflected in her heart. The true beauty in an artist is embodied in her soul. Of life’s two great prizes, Maggie Lau won all. She also took cash on top of her prizes because of her present wonderful vocation.

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