Phillus
Wang Zumin
Wang Zumin is a renowned Chinese picture book illustrator and senior editor. From 2014 to 2021, he served as Art Director of Oriental Baby magazine. His distinctions include the Noma Concours for Picture Book Illustrations and the 33rd Chen Bochui International Children's Literature Award. His works were selected for the 2016 Bologna Illustrators Exhibition, a 2021 key thematic publishing project supported by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, and the 2023 BolognaRagazzi Awards. His books have been licensed for publication in numerous countries.
Books Presented at Grafixx
Xiaoman - Hunan Juvenile & Children’s Publishing House
Xiaoman
This tale recounts the legend of Xiaoman, a young hero by the bank of the Xiang River, who outwits an ancient giant serpent. When his homeland falls victim to a plague, Xiaoman discerns the sinister truth and resolutely steps forward. After a life-and-death struggle, he finally severs the serpent’s head, utterly eradicating the calamity and restoring peace to both shores of the Xiangjiang River.
The Art of Playfulness
Wang Zumin’s artistic philosophy emphasizes humor and playfulness, guided by his belief that humor is one of the qualities children enjoy most. He strives to bring these elements to their fullest expression in his work.
His artistic style is highly versatile, encompassing a wide range of techniques and media, including traditional Chinese painting, acrylics, decorative painting, pen and watercolor, paper cutting, colored pencils, and gouache. Drawing inspiration from Chinese folk art, he skillfully blends traditional motifs with contemporary elements, creating illustrations that combine cultural heritage with a modern sensibility. He values a natural, spontaneous, and relaxed visual language that feels warm and approachable to young readers.
In creating Oops! What a Scatterbrain! (哎哟！马大哈), Wang drew inspiration from his fascination with the horse in the Chinese zodiac. He regards zodiac traditions as an important part of Chinese cultural heritage and picture books as a gentle, emotionally engaging medium for cultural transmission. In cross-cultural dialogues, he has also shared his experience of reinterpreting Chinese folktales and traditional ink painting through contemporary artistic approaches.
In his approach to art education, Wang advocates creativity and enjoyment over formal drawing instruction, encouraging children to explore their imagination freely.