Four in Love takes the concept of “a picture is worth a thousand words” and turns it into a beautiful story.
Crystal Kung sat down with an interview with Yen Press for her release of the wordless graphic novel Four in Love which, in four short stories, depicts the different facets of love. Kung came to the US in 2016 in the hopes of pursuing a career rooted in animation and comic storytelling. After studying at CalArts for a year and a half, she left school and was soon hired at Blue Sky Studios and also worked at Pixar Animation Studios as a character designer and visual development artist.
The opportunity to write Four in Love came at a turbulent time in her life when Kung was going through a breakup. “My mind was consumed by sadness and loneliness,” she said. “I decided to make the book into a little murmur to myself, it was like a personal healing process at first.”
Kung started with “Red Thread” first which is about a traditional belief that two people who are destined to be together will be connected by a red string. In the beginning, you may not know who your destined person is but knowing that you are destined to be with someone can bring some kind of relief and anticipation. The creator even went to a temple to ask for a red string. “It felt like looking forward to the future.”
But love, in reality, is not so simple.
“Heartbreak is a huge part of [love]. So the book evolved into a kind of little diary about love and relationships.”
“Red Thread” also proved to be the most personal meaningful for her as going to the temple and feeling the dichotomy of disappointment and hope helped her remember to “stop chasing that distant future and instead focus on what [she has] in the present.”
When asked about a word of advice for aspiring artists, Kung’s answer was vulnerable. When she first came to the U.S., Kung’s main focus was on work and school and trying to break into a competitive industry. The stress weighed heavily on her and, in retrospect, had an effect on her growth as an artist.
“I really wish I had allowed myself to enjoy life a bit more. I wish I had understood that life isn’t all about work and art. I wish I had been more open to stepping out of my bubble, making friends, and meeting all kinds of people. That would have broadened my experiences, enriched my storytelling, and helped me grow into a more mature artist. I wish I had realized earlier that you need to be good at living your life before you can truly excel at creating art.”
Four in Love released on May 26. You can read the full interview on Yen Press’s blog.
Source: Yen Press
