Glad to present a paper at the NTU English Graduate Research Symposium about Sonny Liew’s The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye (2015). In my paper, I contended that the pedagogical implications of the text remain understudied. Liew’s graphic novel ignites illuminating historical possibilities and leverages the creative possibilities of visual representation. It’s not merely the text’s patterns of crowd imagery but also Liew’s stylistic and formal strategies that actualise the work’s potential to prompt deeper considerations and reflections about the complexity of subjectivity, as well as the strengths and hazards of collectives. Thank you to my fellow presenters, including Kevin Martens Wong, organiser / presenter Jamie Gabrielle Uy, and moderator Amrita Iyer!
📷: Carolyn Oei