Taiwanese illustrator Zhou Jian-xin 周見信 says that on the surface, one of his graphic novels comes across as a conversation between a squirrel and an old tree.
“But in reality, it’s me describing myself,” the Tainan-born comic artist tells Pancouver over Zoom. “It’s about my journey after leaving Tainan and then returning and facing my mother.”
In The Little Squirrel and the Banyan Tree, Zhou addresses weighty themes, such as the beginning and end of life, as well as one’s legacy. It’s a distillation of what he learned through his interactions with his mom.
“I used the story of the squirrel remembering the old tree’s experiences—and then passing them on to the next listener,” Zhou says.
Images from The Little Squirrel and the Banyan Tree will be part of the On the Road exhibition at the Pendulum Gallery in Vancouver. Zhou’s artwork from two other picture books will also be shown from February 2 to 27 as part of The Lantern City project. Admission is free.
Yang Fu-min, who’s also from Tainan, wrote the other books. In Mom and Her Motorcycle, she shares stories of her mother. Zhou created gorgeous illustrations to accompany the text, which captures how the mom learns to be independent.
“When I was creating this picture book, one purpose was to express the affection between a mother and her child,” Zhou says. “Another purpose was to showcase Tainan’s temple culture, landscapes, and rural scenery through the illustrations.”
Zhou depicts longevity
In one scene, the main character encounters a Taoist centipede parade. At these events, dozens of children dressed in various roles sit on wooden planks accompanied by adults walking in a religious pilgrimage.
According to The Lantern City curator Jessica Sung, the mother shows courage in how she interacts with the centipede parade. To Sung, this mirrors the central theme of this year’s Lantern City exhibition in the Varley Art Gallery Courtyard in Unionville Markham from February 21 to March 20. In welcoming the Year of the Horse, organizers are using the slogan “Brave the Wind”.
“There are many such cultural challenges in daily life, constantly presenting new possibilities,” Sung says.
Zhou’s illustrations also animate Great Grandma’s Daily Calendar, which is also part of the On the Road exhibition. According to the artist, this 2025 picture book touches on Yang’s link to her great-grandmother.
In addition, Zhou and Yang interpret longevity as a form of spiritual practice. They do this through the book’s depiction of the great-grandmother as a living bodhisattva.
“We actually grew up very similarly, so we share a lot of perspectives and experiences, including our relationships with the matriarchs in our family,” Zhou states.
Meanwhile, a giant illustration (above) from Great Grandma’s Daily Calendar will appear on one of six Lunar Lanterns in the Varley Art Gallery Courtyard later this month. It’s part of the free LunarFest GTA celebrations, which will be held on the premises of the Unionville Markham gallery on February 21 and 22.
Tainan history informs artist’s work
All three of the books that Zhou illustrated are set in Tainan, which is the oldest city in Taiwan. Dutch colonists established Fort Zeelandia in 1624 in what is now Tainan. This European military outpost was seized 38 years later by the southern Ming general Koxinga.
Tainan later became the island’s capital under Qing dynastic rule. Then the city came under Japanese control in 1895 following the first Sino-Japanese War. Fifty years later, Chinese Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek seized control of the island following Japan’s loss in the Second World War. Chiang imposed martial law and ultimately moved his government to Taiwan after his forces lost the Chinese Civil War.
“Tainan has a very rich historical and cultural heritage, and has been home to various different ethnic groups,” Zhou says. “Many people come to Tainan to see historical sites or eat local, traditional food.”
Global recognition for The Boy From Clearwater
In recent years, Taiwan has emerged as a hotbed for graphic novels and Chinese-language comics.
Zhou has also captured major prizes for his illustrations. They include the Golden Tripod Award, Golden Comic Award, White Ravens Award, and Freeman Book Award for The Boy From Clearwater. Yu Pei-Yun wrote the text for both volumes of this book about publisher Tsai Kun-lin, who was imprisoned and tortured during Taiwan’s notorious White Terror era. Several years after Tsai’s release from prison, he launched Prince magazine, which published many Taiwanese comic artists’ work.
The Boy From Clearwater has been translated into eight languages.
“The book required a lot of research, so it’s quite rich in historical detail,” Zhou says. “We didn’t initially envision it as a work with the potential to reach a global audience.”
For many years, he taught elementary school, where he developed various approaches to educate students. Zhou adapted that mindset to his book illustrations, employing a variety of techniques.
“This means using a different medium for each picture book, allowing each to present its own unique style.”
LunarFest GTA will take place in the Varley Art Gallery Courtyard in Unionville Markham on February 21 and 22. For more information and a schedule of events, visit the website. Lunar Lanterns: Brave the Wind will be in the Varley Art Gallery Courtyard from February 21 to March 20.
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