Artists

Photo Credit: NIU Chun-Chiang

Yashin

Yashin is a visual creator whose comics focus on women's emotions and bodily experiences. Through the integration of visual storytelling and book design, she reconsiders the rhythm and form of reading. By treating the structure of the book as part of the narrative itself, her works invite viewers to enter the story through the act of turning pages.

Her publications include Mirror Mirror in my hand, which explores social media; the science-fiction comic Deeper Blue; and the short comic Cigarette before $ex. She has received awards and recognition from the Bologna Illustrators Exhibition in Italy, the Angoulême Digital Comics Award in France, the 3x3 Illustration Awards in the United States, ASIAGRAPH in Japan, and the Golden Butterfly Awards, among others. She has participated in artist residencies at La Maison des Auteurs - Cité Internationale de la bande dessinée et de l'image in Angoulême, France; Preparatory Office of National Taiwan Museum of Comics; and Soulangh Cultural Park in Taiwan.

Artist
Statement.

For me, this residency was both a journey of cultural discovery and an opportunity to refine my artistic language. My goal was to draw inspiration from the unique scenery, culture, and social atmosphere of Europe for my future work.

The language, climate, and rhythm of life in Europe are very different from Taiwan. The time difference disconnected me from my old life and left me feeling alone. I was living in unfamiliar land far away from my friends and family and facing a totally new way of living. For me, this journey was not just a physical relocation, but also an emotional shift and a sense of disorientation. The new surroundings inspired me to re-examine my creative theme and led me to realize that instead of my initial plan to focus on "traveling", what I really wanted was to express the feeling of "wandering".

This residency offered more than just material for my work. It also showed me how my creative direction could be shaped by where I was and how I felt. What started as a traveling theme gradually developed into an artistic exploration of feeling lost and disoriented. This shift allowed me to see my own creative process on a deeper level, which was the most defining gift of this journey.

Sharing a studio space with other comic artists from around the world meant that I was in close daily contact with them. We discussed our concepts, the way we work, and how we promote our work in different markets. From these conversations, I gained a clearer picture of the creative processes, career paths, and publishing scene for comic artists here in Europe.

I also attended the Angoulême International Comics Festival, which took place during my stay. I met readers from all over the world and was even interviewed by the French press. I learned to market my work in an international setting more effectively and built connections with industry professionals.

My residency at La Cité internationale de la Bande Dessinée et de l'image in Angoulême was an immersive experience. From exchanging ideas with other comic artists to learning about the publishing industry to attending the Angoulême International Comics Festival, this journey has been incredibly rewarding for my creative and professional growth.

Author: Yashin
Edited: Brix

About La Maison des auteurs - Cité Internationale de la bande dessinée et de l'image