The little stories of Shaun Tan

My first encounter with Shaun Tan was on a shelf in the bottom left, in the section devoted to children's fiction of the Feltrinelli. The book is called “Piccole storie di perferia” (Tales from Outer Suburbia) published by Rizzoli. I had already conquered by the sketches in the second and third page, but the illustrations inside have not the slightest expectations.

Actually, Shaun Tan is not only an excellent illustrator but it is a fantastic writer able to tell imaginative and educational stories permeated by memories and personal experiences.

His books have been translated into more than 10 languages and it is not difficult to imagine why, his illustrations are spectacular as paintings (some illustrations remind me of Hopper's works), richly detailed with a use of colour that makes the family atmosphere.

Shaun Tan uses several means of expression: pencil, India ink, colored pencil, painting and various printing techniques demonstrating great versatility, each story is crowned by an illustrative style differs always suitable emotions that wants to convey.

In pencil in black and white or vibrant big color strokes, from the narrative point of view, always manages to find the best way to involve the reader whatever theme he choose to treat, social themes, politicians and historians to the surreal and dreamlike. Precisely for this reason his books have not defined age, anyone can appreciate both the text and the illustration.

The little stories of Shaun Tan

I have to say that illustrations are for me the main ‘texts’ in my books, and although writing is often the starting point, it rather acts as a kind of scaffolding or binding that stitches everything together. More recently I have been thinking a lot about visual narrative where there is no accompanying text. I’m intrigued by the ability of the reader to superimpose their own thoughts and feelings onto visual experience, without the possible distraction of words.

Mr. Tan has also worked as theatre designer, and worked as concept artist for the movie WALL-E Pixar, and directed the short film The Lost Thing, adapted from his book of the same name, who won in 2011 the Academy Award for best animated short.

Here the site of the film. The section of faq on his site is really detailed and you can find so many interesting things about the Australian artist. Take a ride on his site.