[4] To the MOON who Forgot
Everything about the moon - an artsy edit
If we remember, will it ever disappear? Is it that those out of sight don't exist anymore?
These thoughts resurfaced when I saw some illustrations on my coffee cup sleeve recently, somehow echoes with what we are going through in different corners of the world. The illustrations are by Taiwanese illustrator Jimmy Liao, whose picture books are so popular that I read many of them in my childhood. Those melancholy sentiments I once felt from his picture books came alive when I saw the illustrations, which are from his book The Moon Forgets (now titled When the Moon Forgot), instantly took me back to years ago…
It’s a story about the moon who falls from the sky and forgets to rise…
One night in a field, a lonely little boy occasionally finds the moon, takes it home and cares for it, slowly helping it heal. While they’re enjoying each other’s company, people begin manufacturing toy moons so that everyone can have one of their own, yet nothing feels right because the world misses the real moon. Happiness fades when they just get a taste of it. No matter how befriended the boy and the moon are, he realizes he must help the moon find its way back to the sky, even though it means they must part…
Rereading his book The Moon Forgets today felt certainly different, as new and old perspectives blended together. Published right before the 921 Taiwan Earthquake in 1999 — when people realized that “the unseen darkness” of solitude and unrest never truly left — the tale of the moon and the little boy now stands as a silent guardian, bringing light to the night's darkness. I guess, just like the story itself, both the boy and the world will never forget the time when the moon forgot to rise — a much-needed time for the moon to rest and be taken care of. Yet if the world forgets, the story is gone as well.
Does the moon forget, or is it us all the time?
Looking up, the moon shines so brightly tonight, doesn’t it? Perhaps the moon healed, learned and returned just in time for the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival or the Mooncake Festival. This is a time for reunion and celebration, often described as when “people and the moon reunite to form a full circle.” It occurs on the fifteenth day of the eighth month in the Chinese calendar, when the moon is believed to be at its fullest.
With years gone by, the idea of the moon has deeply rooted in my heart. Even when I visit galleries or museums, there’s always an intention for me to seek out artworks featuring moonlight or my dearest moon. The day I drank my coffee and saw the illustration, the moon wasn’t quite full yet, and the sky was so clear that I could easily see its texture. Bit by bit, day by day, its round shape became more defined. With a sip of coffee, I looked through my iCloud and searched for the artworks I’ve documented over the years. Sharing some with you in this newsletter, it might be a long list, so it’s best to open the app or browser to read the full edit ;)
Hope you all enjoyed a lovely reunion under the moonlight — shared some mooncakes with your loved ones, went moongazing, or enjoyed a range of festive events.
Until then,
K.
Gorgeous images, Karma!
So many details, love them :)