Australian illustrator Shaun Tan’s picture book Cicada tells a sobering parable tale of migrant workers and workplace bullying through the voice of a hardworking insect who has toiled away, unappreciated and without promotion, alongside humans in a grey office block for 17 years.
Upsetting as the premise is, the story ends on a more optimistic note, perhaps serving as a bit of inspiration for the unappreciated striver in all of us as well.
(below) Some of the sketches and clay sculpture of the cicada that Shaun Tan utilized as models during the making of this book were on display at the Welcome To Nowhere Exhibition held in Tokyo in 2019, and also featured in the exhibition catalog.
Cicada – Shaun Tan Illustrated Book details :
– Dimensions – 19.7 x 1.3 x 24.8 cm
– hardcover, 32 pages
– Full color, in English
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June 12th, 2020 at 12:52 am
Thanks for the review, but… you published/spoiled the whole book 🙁
June 12th, 2020 at 3:17 am
SaZiRi – You’re right – I’ve removed a couple of images, hopefully it’ll be better now. I’m sorry I spoiled it for you.
June 16th, 2020 at 7:14 am
It really remind me the book “The Metamorphosis”, that Franz Kafka wrote.
June 16th, 2020 at 3:34 pm
Niv – I’m not familiar with that title, but I’m tempted to check it out now. Thanks !