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Yifun Cheng

Yifun Cheng

Meet Taiwanese illustrator, Yifun Cheng.

 

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Hi, I am Yifun Cheng, an illustrator based in Taiwan.

I currently live in Tainan with my husband, children, and a dog.

I enjoy drawing themes related to nature. In addition to receiving cases, I also set up an illustration brand with my husband: Isle Research Station. The name comes from Taiwan island, which is my birthplace and comes from the Galapagos Islands which inspired Darwin to finish his famous book: The Origins of Species. I hope that through illustrations, the images of plants and animals will be filled in everyone’s life.

 

Describe the city you’re living in and what it’s like to live there.

I have lived in three places and all have a profound impact on me. I grew up in Yilan as a child, a rainy county with many green rice fields, and my grandmother ’s garden made me like being close to plants and little animals.

The second city is Taipei. From elementary school to university, I don’t like high-rise buildings and wet weather in Taipei, but I like to climb the surrounding trails in the mountains.

And now I live in Tainan, a warm, sunny and historical city which people in are very friendly.

 

I have lived in three places and all have a profound impact on me.

What is the best and worst thing about living in your city?

The pace of Tainan is very laid-back, which is very suitable for a good living style. The disadvantage is that many shops are only open from Thursday to Sunday, sometimes I feel bored and have no place to visit.

 

Give us 3 words that describe what it’s like to be a creative in your city.

relax, optimistic, historical

 

How did you start your career in art?

After graduating from college, I was in a state of anxiety about the future. When I arranged photos of European exchange students, I suddenly wanted to draw the landscape in the photos. I really enjoyed the process of painting and I was healed in my heart. After I put works on my website, I received some commissions.

 

I really enjoyed the process of painting and I was healed in my heart.

Were the people around you supportive of your decision on working as a creative?

My family supports me in many places. When I was a child, my mom took me to art lessons and gave me much free time in painting without pressure. My husband also supports me in creative work. The two of us are currently operating illustration brands together.

 

What are some goals and ambitions you have for your future work?

I want to express the beauty of nature in illustrations and combine it with daily necessities. I hope that animals and plants can often appear in life and have been created with this goal.

 

I want to express the beauty of nature in illustrations and combine it with daily necessities. I hope that animals and plants can often appear in life and have been created with this goal.

If you could collaborate with any person in the world who would it be?

Too many possibilities! I also want to work with botanists, zoologists, and photographers specializing in natural ecology.

 

How would you describe the women around you?

Although I have many girl friends from different fields around, everyone is more and more autonomous and will not easily compromise with traditional female images.

 

Although I have many girl friends from different fields around, everyone is more and more autonomous and will not easily compromise with traditional female images.

Were there any local female creatives that you looked up to when you were growing up?

No, because female creators were less exposed during my growth process, and I did not pay much attention to the creative field at that time.

 

Are there any challenging aspects of being a female in your industry?

It doesn’t have much to do with gender, mainly because I have to take care of children, so the time is shortened.

 

Honest works will be felt by everyone.

Do you have any advice to young women who are aspiring to work in your field?

I like a quote from the movie “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”: No matter what kind of decision we made in our life, we must treat ourselves with sincerity. Honest works will be felt by everyone.

 

 

Photos courtesy of Yifun Cheng.

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