Agarwood Fragrance - The First Incense (Paper Film)

Author: Zhang Kuang Sun Meng Jing Jing
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-08-01
Features: The illustrations and text interpret the intense yet melancholic romantic relationships between men and women in Eileen Chang's novels, as well as the sorrow of finding the world empty and joy unrepeatable upon waking. This montage created on paper in a combination of images and text presents the intricate emotions and heart-stirring conclusions of Chang’s novels more delicately than film. One page is cold, the next is haunting—over the days to come, when you recall Eileen Chang, it may no longer be just her desolate words. Then you’ll find yourself often remembering this image, swirling in your mind. Finally, you’ll understand that passionate yet repressed emotions are like roses after their bloom—though the petals have faded, their enchanting fragrance lingers.
A genius woman with a cold demeanor, once you step into her world, you can never let go. You become captivated by her talent, her keen insight into the complexities of human nature, and her imagery—gentle, delicate, and uniquely feminine, unlike the tender and soft depictions of other female writers. The imagery in this book is original and distinctly Eileen Chang’s. Following her words and using a visual metaphor to get closer to her heart, you’ll feel as if her words and images are petals drifting onto your heart, stirring ripples of sorrow and beauty.
Even a light brushstroke can evoke a sense of desolation—this is Eileen Chang, a genius who emerged from Shanghai’s literary scene in 1943. Half a century later, Shanghai is another kind of prosperity, but the voice of cold serenity and the eyes that seemed to pierce the depths of the soul are no longer heard. Perhaps, as she once said: "Life is a gorgeous robe, crawling with lice." Even the most exquisite garment will eventually be worn down, so the perfect Eileen Chang had to let go—though it was once perfect.
Through illustrations and text, this book intensifies and makes more vivid the original’s coolness, clarity, calmness, and splendor. We attempt to convey the stories that once moved and shocked us through a glimpse of light, a scene, and a group of words. Thus, Eileen Chang’s novel, known as her "paper film," with its fluid dialogue, intricate plots, and narrative style close to that of theater and film, transforms into a true "paper film." Her poignant and desolate emotions, the winding feelings, and the heart-stirring conclusions are reinterpreted through a new form—a "paper montage." While the plot and language style remain true to the original, we pay homage to our great Eileen Chang.