Eli Lin
Eli Lin was born into a family of custom tailors, where painting and creative expression have been a part of her daily life. With a particular passion for bold lines and vibrant colors, the artist seamlessly incorporates historical and costume-related elements into her work. Lin has worked as a storyboard artist for an animated series and a lecturer in costume design at the Taiwan Comic Base. She has been nominated multiple times by the Angoulême International Comics Festival for the FIBD Challenge Competition and the Young Talent Competition, and has also received recognition from the 3×3 International Illustration in the United States.
In 2023, Lin collaborated with Shin Kong Mitsukoshi on a touring exhibition “Who Art You?” and was selected for the 2023-2024 Taiwan Comic Artist Residency Program, which took her to Angoulême, France. Her work has been featured at domestic and overseas exhibitions, such as the Taipei Fashion Week SS24 Opening Show, 2024 New York MoCCA Fest, and Angoulême International Comics Festival.
- Location France / Angoulême
- Year of the Grant 2023
- Residency La Maison des auteurs - Cité Internationale de la bande dessinée et de l'image
- Work Rosetta
The Angoulême International Comics Festival, held annually at the beginning of a year in France, draws the world’s comic fans and artists to take part. For this event, I prepared a wide range of printed materials, personal comics, and art supplies to enhance my interaction with visitors. As a finalist in the digital competition, I had the opportunity to exchange creative ideas with fellow artists. I find that European comics embrace a freer approach – sometimes, technical perfection is not the priority. The point is how an artist conveys their story. This rare opportunity was incredibly exciting for me.
La Maison des Auteurs - Cité Internationale de la bande dessinée et de l'image, where I took my residency, provides various printing and bookbinding machines. This allows anyone with a creative vision to make a comic book there. The curator would discuss with artists the exhibition content according to their needs and offer professional advice. Finally, it was decided that my exhibition centered on my passion for costume history, in particular the fabrics streets, tailor shops, and intricate sewing techniques in my hometown, Tainan. The comic would explore Taiwan’s fashion history, such as the evolution and stories of Cheongsam (qipao) from the 1920s to the 1980s, while also showcasing many of Tainan’s cultural characteristics. Following the exhibition, several publishers expressed interest in the work and hoped to translate and publish it in multiple languages.
Several months after the festival, a French publisher, Mahô Éditions, expressed interest in acquiring the publishing rights for my work, Rosetta. The opportunity arose because of the residency, which allowed me to present Rosetta to publishers and discuss potential collaborations with them. Additionally, by participating in the signing and illustration event at the Taiwan Pavilion, I had the chance to interact with comics editors and readers.
Author: Eli Lin
Edited: Brix