Lee Lai's Graphic Novel 'Cannon' Explores Quiet Exhaustion and Family Responsibility
Australian cartoonist Lee Lai has released a new graphic novel titled 'Cannon,' published by Giramondo Publishing. The work follows a young queer woman named Cannon who navigates burnout, caregiving for her aging grandfather, and the silent expectations placed on her as the eldest daughter in an Asian family. Lai, who gained recognition with her debut 'Stone Fruit' in 2021, now lives in Tiohtià:ke (Montreal, Canada). The book employs minimalist black-and-white visuals to convey emotional weight and monotony. A launch event is scheduled for March 25 at Wildflower Brewing & Blending in Marrickville, NSW.
Key facts
- Lee Lai is the author and illustrator of the graphic novel 'Cannon'
- The protagonist is a queer woman in her late twenties dealing with family duties and workplace stress
- Lai's previous work 'Stone Fruit' was shortlisted for the Stella Prize and won multiple awards
- The graphic novel uses restrained black-and-white artwork to depict emotional exhaustion
- A book launch will occur on March 25 at Wildflower Brewing & Blending in Marrickville, NSW
Entities
Artists
- Lee Lai
Institutions
- Giramondo Publishing
- Stella Prize
- National Book Foundation
- Lambda Literary Award
- Cartoonist Studio Prize
- Lynd Ward Graphic Novel Prize
- The New Yorker
- The New York Times
- Granta
- Museum of Modern Arts
- ArtsHub
- Create NSW
Locations
- Australia
- Tiohtià:ke (Montreal, Canada)
- Marrickville NSW