Let the wind go

"A Breather" is a work by Mr. Wong Yan-kwai, divided into two parts: "The 400 Blows" and "Voiceover." This is a literary book, and literary books often give people an impression of being lengthy and dull. However, once you read this book, your perception might change. With Mr. Wong Yan-kwai's humorous and witty writing style, you will undoubtedly fall in love with reading this book.

 

Mr. Wong Yan-kwai is an art director and painter, so in addition to his short essays, this book also features his hand-drawn illustrations. They appear simple yet a bit abstract, but with a little thought, you can certainly grasp their meaning.

 

Furthermore, the cover of "A Breather" is also worth examining. It features only a small hole and a red line. Through the hole, one can peek at the many characters within the book, each with their own role and, of course, their own personality. For instance, Yu Lao-bing, the bank guard, is a very representative character. From his foolish actions, readers can also observe his humorous side. The cover design also reflects author Wong Yan-kwai's personal attitude and pursuit towards observation and creation.

 

This is both a literary and an art book, so you should not only look at it with your eyes but also read and savor it with your heart.

 

The book compiles essays from Wong Yan-kwai's columns in "Wah Kiu Yat Po," "Sing Pao Daily News," and "Modern Daily" from the mid-1990s, divided into two collections. The first collection, "The 400 Blows," contains 65 pieces, all exquisite sketches of ordinary people. The second collection, "Voiceover," contains 102 pieces, mainly discussing art, especially painting, inspired by people and things in daily life. "A Breather" was published by So葉 Press in 1998, sold out multiple printings, and even went out of print. Twenty years later, in 2018, the Hong Kong Literary Museum revised and reissued "A Breather," and Wong Yan-kwai re-drew all the illustrations for "The 400 Blows" section.