Mao Shan and Her Hong Kong

I really like how Maoshan depicts Hong Kong; her work has a lot of warmth, and only someone born and raised there could capture that local sentiment. I first learned about this illustrator from a picture book about funerals in Southern China, "The Last Farewell" (published by Kapok Tree). Her innocent touch with colored pencils and crayons creates a hazy style that is full of details. Her latest picture book, "On the Slow Boat to Lantau," features more unique Hong Kong cityscapes—the misty sea, the Central Pier ferry, and the light and shadow of Hong Kong at night. Each frame draws you in for a long time, making you feel that Hong Kong is indeed a beautiful city.

This time, the protagonist is a cat – a cat that uses sea mist to make cakes, a cat that remains true to itself even as the city undergoes constant changes, and a cat that deeply loves its captain owner and cares about the troubles of the human world. This cat seems to carry a subtle metaphor for the author's own mindset—how to live peacefully in a city after dramatic changes.

Is the swirling sea mist human worries, or egg whites that can be whipped into a cake? Let's follow a cat onto this slow boat!

Maoshan seems to have a fondness for water. In the hand-drawn map of Hong Kong she created for the magazine "Where There is Water, There is Hong Kong" (published by Just Media), unlike traditional maps that focus on land, the ocean plays a very significant role. This map continues her usual warm style, with endless details showcasing Hong Kong's maritime culture and aquatic history, thus echoing the book's theme.

Maoshan's personal website:https://www.studiomaoo.com/

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