Girl in glasses (Sangbei figure)

Author: ［French］ Patrick Modiano
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-04-01
Features: Are you a Modiano fan? Who is the Spring Suit Modiano? The simplest answer is—picture book master. When it comes to picture books, some might mention Taiwan’s Jii Mi, but when discussing Europe’s rich humanistic tradition in picture books, no one dares to overlook Modiano. Modiano is a concept that is round and half-unspoken, a taste, a style (if the word "style" hasn’t been ruined beyond recognition). His charm lies between near and far, between half-dream and half-awake, between indifference and compassion, like a cup of water that has settled for a long time and has been gently stirred. Since gaining fame in 1960 for illustrating Nicolas Bourdeloin, he has published over twenty works to date, and his fans worldwide communicate and share the joy of reading Modiano in their own ways. Modiano doesn’t have a "Modiano-style" language, which leaves his fans lacking the common entry points used by fans of others. "Modiano" has become the only key to entering this enchanting world. It’s hard to sum up what Modiano focuses on. French publications say: "The typical characters in Modiano’s works are small like birds but cannot soar freely; they are idealists tied down by daily trivialities—dreaming of open and vast spaces, yet firmly bound to the ground." He is sharp and cold. Mr. Lambert is entirely in the style of a French art film, with fixed settings, fixed people, repetitive Christmases, and a character who is always absent but the protagonist of the whole book. Politics, football, and women become men’s outlets to mask their inner desolation. Life in cafes is without, everyone talks endlessly but says nothing. He is humorous. In Air Mail, the clash between aggressive culture and deeply relaxed but somewhat declining culture is portrayed in a way that is hilarious. He is meticulous. My Half is a emotional landscape painting of various people, full of desire, calculation, giving, and waiting. Every emotional cross-section is viscous, absurd, and filled with doubt. He is incisive. Morning depicts the boundary between dreams and wakefulness, a time when will and desire, hope and loss coexist. The scenes of flowing consciousness and dim moods strip away people, perhaps bringing them closer to our souls. In A Bit of Paris, Paris, no matter how big, is just a prop. Behind all the scenery lies a humble French provincial man. Understanding the smallness of people in this way might be more interesting than understanding a great city. Modiano’s artistic style is profound and inscrutable, even the French themselves cannot fully understand him. Perhaps this is just proof that Modiano is not French, nor even European. His greatest contribution to the world is providing a pair of Modiano eyes. When you finish reading Modiano’s books, you might gain a new perspective on the world, like Modiano’s humor, sharpness, or even if you travel to Europe and use Modiano’s aura to recast everything you see, perhaps everything takes on a new meaning. Are you a Modiano fan? Who is the Spring Suit Modiano? The simplest answer is—picture book master. When it comes to picture books, some might mention Taiwan’s Jii Mi, but when discussing Europe’s rich humanistic tradition in picture books, no one dares to overlook Modiano. Modiano is a concept that is round and half-unspoken, a taste, a style (if the word "style" hasn’t been ruined beyond recognition). His charm lies between near and far, between half-dream and half-awake, between indifference and compassion, like a cup of water that has settled for a long time and has been gently stirred. Since gaining fame in 1960 for illustrating Nicolas Bourdeloin, he has published over twenty works to date, and his fans worldwide communicate and share the joy of reading Modiano in their own ways. Modiano doesn’t have a "Modiano-style" language, which leaves his fans lacking the common entry points used by fans of others. "Modiano" has become the only key to entering this enchanting world. It’s hard to sum up what Modiano focuses on. French publications say: "The typical characters in Modiano’s works are small like birds but cannot soar freely; they are idealists tied down by daily trivialities—dreaming of open and vast spaces, yet firmly bound to the ground." He is sharp and cold. Mr. Lambert is entirely in the style of a French art film, with fixed settings, fixed people, repetitive Christmases, and a character who is always absent but the protagonist of the whole book. Politics, football, and women become men’s outlets to mask their inner desolation. Life in cafes is without, everyone talks endlessly but says nothing. He is humorous. In Air Mail, the clash between aggressive culture and deeply relaxed but somewhat declining culture is portrayed in a way that is hilarious. He is meticulous. My Half is a emotional landscape painting of various people, full of desire, calculation, giving, and waiting. Every emotional cross-section is viscous, absurd, and filled with doubt. He is incisive. Morning depicts the boundary between dreams and wakefulness, a time when will and desire, hope and loss coexist. The scenes of flowing consciousness and dim moods strip away people, perhaps bringing them closer to our souls. In A Bit of Paris, Paris, no matter how big, is just a prop. Behind all the scenery lies a humble French provincial man. Understanding the smallness of people in this way might be more interesting than understanding a great city. Modiano’s artistic style is profound and inscrutable, even the French themselves cannot fully understand him. Perhaps this is just proof that Modiano is not French, nor even European. His greatest contribution to the world is providing a pair of Modiano eyes. When you finish reading Modiano’s books, you might gain a new perspective on the world, like Modiano’s humor, sharpness, or even if you travel to Europe and use Modiano’s aura to recast everything you see, perhaps everything takes on a new meaning.