Artwork from Johnee Lau, Father of Galaman

GALAMAN Ep.1 有鼻而來, 30-05-2011
I have chosen to present this particular artwork by Johnee Lau, firstly, because it is a comedic animated short film, a representative media of his artworks. “Galaman” is a serial animated short film broadcasted on YouTube. Let’s watch it first.

What strike me the most is how Johnee creates the characters from his uniqle and tiny observation of things. The main character in the animation, Galaman is inspired by the superheroes from the cartoons he watched in his childhood. He sees a special coincidence from many superheroes that their armpit often appears such as Superman has to reveals his armpit when flying and Spider also inevitably shows his armpit when ejecting threads. It is why he invents Galaman transform from the armpit whenever he put up his arm. Another interesting way of creating characters is that he specially adds life to his body parts that are often regarded as disgusting or sensitive. Not only Galaman comes from an armpit but also the monster is actually a nose.

Apart from the creative invention of the character, Johnee also employs pun to design funny characters and dialogue. Pun is one of the special characteristic of Chinese language. I love how Johnee smartly play with the prouniciation and meaning of words. That always surprises and makes me laugh. I think that is what art is all about, to be easily understood, entertaining, and reflecting local culture(e.g. language). Johnee’s works really engage with people and possess the local characteristics. 

Unlike other animations we see, Johnee uses queer and special theme and material in a funny way. For example, the characters are inspired by body parts that are often regarded as disgusting or sensitive. It starts provoke my thought to think about what they are. Why people think they are repulsive? Do I think so? 

Besides, his artworks are often inspired by his unique observation in daily life. This gives me an insight to tiny thing I come across every day and to start appreciate the surroundings especially those ignored by people.

Reference
I think “Galaman” is somehow an artwork of sampling and subverting. For example, the main character, Galaman is inspired when he sees a special coincidence from many superheroes coincidentally often show their armpit. For example, Superman must reveal his armpit when flying and Spider also inevitably shows his armpit when ejecting threads. Therefore, he makes a parody on the superheroes and invents Galaman transform from the armpit whenever he put up his arm. Besides, Johnee also subverts the Chinese by employing pun to design funny characters and dialogue. 



Obviously, “Galaman” can emerges only from the new media of art – digital age. The digital media helps realize and present the virtual world Johnee created to audience. The invention of network and digital world makes art affordable and reachable to anyone. More people can have a whole new different way to see, engage with art. 

External links to Johnee Lau's work:
http://jacso.hk/johnee

Father of Galaman - Johnee Lau

Biography

After graduated from Digital Media of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Johnee and his schoolmates set up their own design studio, “Minimind Studio” in 2011. As an animator and a graphic designer, Johnee starts with a humorous animation on the Internet, based on his graduation product, “Galaman”.

Why I choose him?
The first time I watched Johnee’s animation was when my friend sent me a link on YouTube called “The Eunuch” (重口味神劇 【 太監尬 】 第一集). 

"Pi-ka-chew" (肶卡蕉)

I was like “What the hell is that?” But to my curiosity, I clicked the link and watched it. And that was HILARIOUS! It is a parody on a local TV drama but cross over with the characters in Japanese cartoon: Pokemon. Some people may find it queer and creepy. But I think it is queer and unique in a good way. I love how Johnee smartly use pun to create his characters and dialogues in the animation. For example, in “The Eunuch”, “Pi-ka-chew” from “Pokemon” is similar to “leg-ka-banana” pronounced in Cantonese. So, he creates a characters with a body of banana with a pair of legs but and also Pikachew’s face. It is so funny and surprised when I saw characters from Pokemon, a cartoon I obsessed in my childhood being re-created. 

Afterward I was crazy to watch his other animations and found that he created his own character called “Galaman”, a superhero that are turned from an armpitXD. Instead of parody on original characters, “Galaman” is totally invented by Johnee. In the series of “Galaman”, he also humorously plays on the meaning of words with same pronunciations to design funny characters and dialogue.

Not only does he make animation, but also design illustrations. He has his own style of illustrations called “faster pieces” that he also puns on Chinese words with same pronunciation in Cantonese. What is more admiring is that he can quickly draw those “faster pieces” when being asked in his art booth.

Rings

Cup Noodles

Eyeball (eye-ball in Cantonese pronunciation also means eye-spider) 

Apart from his wit and creativity, I also appreciate his boldness and determination to be an animator and a graphic designer in Hong Kong where design is considered as a job with no prospects and most of the young people nowadays prefer to choose a promising career giving up their design dreams. However, Johnee sticks to his art works and his dream to become a designer with unique styles.

Therefore, I would like to choose Johnee Lau for my paper.

More about Johnee Lau,http://jacso.hk/johnee
http://www.facebook.com/johneelau?fref=ts