Multifaceted works show writer-painter's novel ideas

Starting point

Born in 1952 in Shanghai, Jin spent his childhood in his grandfather's villa on South Shaanxi Road. At 17, he moved to Heilongjiang province to work on a farm. Upon returning to Shanghai, he was employed as a machinist in a watch factory and began writing in his spare time. In 1988, he became an editor at Shanghai Literature, a position he held until his recent retirement.

Fan Hua was published in 2012.

Reflecting on why he wrote the novel, Jin recalls his frustration upon reading online gossip that targeted individuals by name. Determined to focus on the lives of ordinary, nameless people, he set out to capture their stories.

In the novel, Jin paints a rich portrait of Shanghai, drawing on his observations and experiences to depict the city's daily life — details also featured in his artwork. For Jin, painting and writing serve a similar purpose: to preserve the lives of ordinary people.

Jin's foray into painting began with Fan Hua. When the novel was serialized in Harvest magazine, he created four maps as illustrations. Later, as it was being prepared for stand-alone publication, the editor suggested he add more illustrations to clarify key elements like buildings, scenes and clothing.

"That casual suggestion struck me," Jin recalls. "I realized that the novel could be enhanced with visuals."

He adds: "Only through visuals can we capture aspects that words cannot reach. The structure of old lane houses — their upstairs and downstairs — only a drawing can make it instantly clear."