© Li Tianbing
Brilio.net/en - Chinas One-Child policy that was in effect for over three decades, was just recently eased to allow families to have two children. But that means that a whole generation of people was raised as only children. No memories of fighting with your older sibling, or sharing plates and toys for millions of Chinese people.
Guo Jing is depicting that world of childhood loneliness through beautiful illustrations that show the creativity of a young mind that had no one to talk to besides her plush toys. The New York Times even deemed the collected illustrations as one of the best childrens books of 2015.
Growing up, the now professional illustrator had nothing to compare her experiences to as all of her friends were also only children.
Image via cnnGuo Jing
"I feel sad for the missing part when I share the experience with people who have brothers and sisters," says Guo, who's now based in Singapore. "I always had the TV on the whole day," Guo recalled. "Later I realized it's just because I wanted someone to talk with in the empty room so that I didn't feel lonely."
Image via cnnGuo Jing
The policy affected families all over the country, with horrendously high fees and even forced abortions. Years later, the loneliest generation is starting their own families, with potential to grow them. Furthermore, they have been exposed to different family structures through travel and television.
Image via cnnGuo Jing
Li Tianbing, a critically-acclaimed Chinese painter based in Los Angeles, has also reflected on his lonely childhood in recent years, with his famous painting depicting himself with his ghost brothers. I took up painting only to endure the seemingly endless time being alone," he said.
While China is an extreme example of families with only children, kids around the world can relate to the paintings depicted.
Image via cnnLi Tianbing
Image via cnnLi Tianbing
Maybe now, Guo can raise a family like the one she sees in her favourite TV show, Modern Family.
They get jealous and even fight a lot, but they always come back and make up," she says of the show's main characters.
Source: cnn
(brl/red)
