Taiwanese artist Loïc Hsiao dies at 58

Taipei, Nov.18 (CNA) Taiwanese artist Loïc Hsiao (蕭言中), who was best known for his cartoon paintings, and his work as a theater director and TV host, died on early Saturday morning at the age of 58.

Born in Nantou County in 1965, Hsiao had dreamed of becoming a cartoonist since his youth and attended the Department of Arts and Crafts at Fu-hsin Trade & Arts School in pursuit of his goal.

In 1985, the artist published his first comic work "Fairy Tales Untold," and was propelled into the limelight, widely considered to be one of Taiwan's four genius cartoonists, along with Ao Yu-hsiang (敖幼祥), Chu Te-yung (朱德庸) and Tsai Chih-chung (蔡志忠).

In a previous interview with CNA, Hsiao said that after being diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2019, he wanted his legacy to be his art and that he had always dreamt of creating a "cartoon city" to demonstrate to the public how cartoons can be meaningful works of art.

The artist even developed a unique painting method using simple strokes and in 2020 organized art exhibitions in Hualien and Paris, the event in the French capital prompting French President Emmanuel Macron to send Hsiao a blessing letter.

Responding to Hsiao's passing, Huang Chun-wei (黃俊維), chair of the Taipei Comic Artist Labor Union, told CNA that despite being diagnosed with colorectal cancer, Hsiao was still actively engaged in the international art scene and continued producing works.