CHAPTER 31

Original (First written): 2005-07-01

Published in "Lun's World"): April 2013

Rewritten: 2025-09-29

Sometimes I think how wonderful it would be if I could capture Lun’s innocent, unique, yet far-from-simple expression in a portrait.

I have a small wish: to sketch a few portraits of Lun. I have never really drawn seriously. When he was a baby, back when we were living in a 241-square-foot home in Hong Kong, I roughly sketched a few pencil drawings. Later, after coming to Canada, when he was in elementary school, one evening on a sudden impulse, I picked up a pencil and drew him again.

But Lun would never sit quietly and let me draw him. Although I have always liked doodling little figures, I never studied portraiture, nor felt the impulse or passion to express anything through art. So why did this idea even come to me?

I think there are several reasons. First, because Lun was born with autism, his daily life and habits were quite different from other children. Many small details of life became amusing little scenes—for example, drinking thick soup with a fork, yet not being much slower than us; crying out loudly at the sight of a tiny animal like a squirrel; or dreading haircuts so much that waiting for one was like awaiting an execution. If I could capture those moments on paper, the effect would be far more vivid.

Second, Lun’s world is not the same as ours. To us, the world is full of weighty matters: global economics, international geopolitics, the rise and fall of nations, conflicts caused by differences in religion, culture, and language; the love and resentment of family and friends; the struggles of career, future, and personal worth. All of these shape our lives, our surroundings, and our inner peace.

But for Lun, from the day he was born, he seemed to decide the world was too complicated. He found his foothold through self-enclosure, repetitive and rigid routines, a simple lifestyle, and clear-cut likes and dislikes. In this alternative way, he responded to the challenges of the world. Later, I realized our family too had adopted a similar way of surviving in an increasingly chaotic world. Lun’s carefree, nonchalant attitude toward life could itself be a delightful subject for a cartoon.

Third, Lun possesses a smile of pure innocence. To capture that smile in a portrait would be priceless. Caring for Lun is of course demanding, both mentally and physically, yet when he is joyful, cheerful, and content, he always manages to infect those around him with happiness. Sometimes, to everyone’s surprise, he will even tease or poke fun when others are joking.

His most self-satisfied moments are always the same: sitting alone, gazing upward, his eyes narrowing slightly, and then breaking into a smile. Year after year, the same posture, the same expression. We never know what exactly he is thinking at those times, but we know he is happy—laughing with complete sincerity. Lun can be mischievous and playful, but he is never false or pretentious. He shows the best side of human nature. And that, surely, is worth capturing in a portrait.