Drifting Prison 《漂流監獄》
– Hand-Illustrated Picture Book (Published 2020)
Listed on the Government Publishing Information Network (GPI), Ministry of Culture, Taiwan.
About the Project
This picture book was created in 2020 during my high school years in Taiwan, in collaboration with the renowned Taiwanese marine writer Liao Hung-chi (廖鴻基). It is a hand-painted watercolor interpretation of his literary work Drifting Prison (《漂流監獄》). The project was supported and published by the Hualien County Cultural Affairs Bureau, with copyright held by the Hualien County Government. The book is currently available in Chinese only.
About the Literary Work
Drifting Prison centers around a bonito fish named Ati, who grows up constantly swimming forward with his brothers as a survival instinct. One day, he slows down and falls behind — a moment that leads to traumatic consequences. Later, he and a few companions drift into a cage. While the others eventually leave, Ati chooses to remain — a personal decision that prompts reflection on freedom, control, and the meaning of security.
This literary piece explores themes of systemic pressure, existential fear, and individual choice, offering a powerful metaphor for modern society. My interpretation aimed to capture the emotional depth and underlying social critique through visual narrative.
View this publication on official platforms and bookstores:
Drifting Prison (2020) is officially published and available on various platforms, including government publishing databases, national bookstores, and public library catalogs:
- Official book page on GovBooks (Taiwan Government Publishing)
- Official record on GPI – Government Publishing Information (Taiwan)
- View publication on books.com.tw
- View on eslite.com – Eslite Online Bookstore
Selected illustrations from the hand-illustrated book “Drifting Prison” (2020):
