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Alligators with NO “TEAR”
Watercolor on watercolor paper
12 in x 16 in
2022
Alligators do not 'TEAR' is an 8-page storybook about the life cycle of alligators on a farm, from birth to growing up, encountering hunters, being skinned, and recurring again. It is a storybook designed for both adults and children, with the goal of keeping the story simple, straightforward, and reflective for the audience. To achieve this concept, the story is told from the perspective of the alligators, with no words in the book, allowing the audience to interpret the story as they please.
Different age groups may capture different layers of meaning from the story. The most superficial meaning revolves around animal protection and people's greediness, which readers of all ages can understand. Another layer of meaning relates to the hopelessness of life.
The story spans across three generations of alligators. Although hunters eventually capture the alligators, they continue to give birth to new offspring. The alligators in the story serve as metaphors for people who work under capitalism, who are used until their value is exhausted and hope the next generation will break free from the cycle. The decreasing birth rate and increasing number of celibates support the evidence of the reflection on reality.