Illustration:- Celine Ka Wing Lau.
Illustrator Celine Ka Wing Lau tells us a story to celebrate Chinese New Year ~
The Mouse’s Wedding is one of the most famous folk stories of China.
This is how the story goes~
Father Mouse wants the best for his daughter, so he wants to find her the best husband in the world. But the Daughter-Mouse is already in love with another mouse who is a regular working guy. She is Sad, she knows that her father will never let her marry a simple mouse.
Father Mouse proceeds to search, and eventually he finds a most suitable suitor; The Sun.
But the Sun disagrees. He doesn’t think he is that powerful, as he can easily be covered up by a cloud.
Father Mouse decides to ask The Cloud instead, but Cloud points out that it can do nothing when it comes to wind blowing him from place to place.
Father Mouse then asks The Wind, but The Wind says that as it blows along, it can easily be blocked by a wall.
Likewise Father Mouse go to find The Wall, who says in turn, that it can do nothing to prevent a mouse from nibbling away at it.
Finally after all this rushing around, Father Mouse sits down and wipes his brow with a handkerchief. After some thought, he arrives at to a conclusion. He realises that the mouse that he thought weak and simple actually turns out to be the strongest of them all.
So Father Mouse twirls his long whiskers and sets to work, organising a lavish wedding.
The happy daughter is carried to her wedding in a traditional palanquin. A flag bearer walks ahead to proclaim the happy occasion to the townsfolk. She is married to her beloved, and lovebirds kiss in in the sky above.
They prosper and produce nests of cute baby mice.
The End.
I read it this story when I was little, and the more I revisit the story the more I’m in awe. The simplicity of the storytelling delivers a meaningful and tasteful story which children can understand and adults are still able to enjoy.
I have illustrated this work in imitation of the traditional paper cutting style. Chinese paper cuts are traditionally presented in red paper, as red is associated with festivities and happiness in Chinese culture.
Normally paper-cutting artwork is used on festivals like New Year, weddings and the birth of a child. Some will be used as part of religious rituals. Paper cuts always symbolise luck and happiness.
Therefore I think it would be a perfect way to deliver my illustration of The Mouse’s Wedding, representing the joyfulness of the Mouses Daughter, and that she can finally have a lovely ending with the mouse that she loved.
CLKW, Hong Kong.
If you want to see more Celine illustrations, you can check her out at these sites-
https://celinelkw.com/?fbclid=IwAR3jBMuMrAAz3bb7_J91q-hkWXTUy6SUhWCAHpHBaCoGy7gigC8K3Wfs7KA