Renowned cartoonist Loic Hsiao (蕭言中) passed away on Nov. 18 at the age of 58. Culture Minister Shih Che expressed his sincere condolences upon hearing this news. He commended Hsiao’s dedication to comic art, that he not only shaped the comic industry in Taiwan but also raise the profile of Taiwanese comics on the international stage.
Hsiao was born in Nantou County in 1965. He graduated from the Fu-Hsin Trade and Arts School (復興商工美工科) and debuted with the comic book “Short: Fairy Tales Untold (童話短路)” in 1985. It was sold for more than half a million copies. While being a cartoonist, he was also a stage director, actor, singer, and TV show host. He created the Sword Finger art style (指劍畫派) in 2017, integrating Chinese martial arts aesthetics and Zen philosophy into his works, and consequently held exhibitions in Taipei, Tokyo, and Paris.
Hsiao was known for his unique sense of humor and sarcasm, evident in works like “Short: Fairy Tales Untold” and “Stupid Thieves (笨賊一籮筐).” His talent was widely recognized, earning him prestigious awards such as the Golden Comics Award (GCA) in 2003 for “Let Me Lie! Magic Mirror (騙我吧！魔鏡),” and the 11th Golden Comic Awards Special Contribution Award in 2020.
Upon receiving GCA’s Special Contribution Award in 2020, Hsiao affirmed his commitment, vowing to remain at the forefront and work until the end. The Ministry of Culture expressed gratitude towards Hsiao for his lifelong devotion to Taiwanese comics.