Born in Austria, Bliss grew up among many nationalities that were constantly in conflict. As World War II broke out in Europe, he left his factory in Vienna and fled to Shanghai in 1940, where there was an international settlement that allowed him to stay and work as a photographer and filmmaker. In the six years that Bliss stayed in China, he became drawn to Chinese ideograms and paid scholars to teach him about the history of the characters. Combining his new observations with his knowledge of mathematics, molecular formulae and electrical pictorials, Bliss decided to develop an international auxiliary language. He envisioned his system of symbols to break down barriers of understanding between people. Once the war was over, Bliss moved to Sydney and began what he believed was his life’s work.