Drawing attention to themselves

An exhibition titled Moments, depicting those rare golden moments that seem to lodge in our minds, is being held in Shanghai.

Featuring the works of three illustrators, Zhou Jiaqi, Tan Bowen and Shi Kefan, who have been making a name for themselves around the world, the exhibition is being held at the Sinan Time Zone art gallery in Sinan Mansions in downtown Shanghai.

The exhibitors have won international awards and acclaim for their work.

The main wall of the exhibition, which was created by 26-year-old Zhou, portrays two women from different eras, one wearing an elegant cheongsam, and another wearing modern clothing, sitting at the same table sipping coffee.

"The inspiration for this piece comes from seeing sunlight shining on the white tablecloth of a restaurant at Sinan Mansions, a scene that seemed to stop time and space," says Zhou, who graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in the United States and was an illustrator with the US internet portal Dotdash.

Also on show are a slew of Zhou's artworks that were created during the COVID-19 pandemic. They include A Glimpse of Life, a 2021 American Illustration chosen winner and a winner of the World Illustration Awards Longlist, organized by the US' Society of Illustrators.

"The artwork was created during the COVID-19 lockdown last year when dining at a restaurant with friends became difficult," Zhou says, adding that scenes we perhaps took for granted before the pandemic hit should not be forgotten.

Other illustrations include Modern Love, which describes the anxiety that young couples experience when separated, and the artwork, Hope, which uses tulips and inverted glasses as a form of encouragement during the pandemic.

Hope was a 2021 Communication Arts Illustration Competition Awards shortlist winner, organized by the US magazine Communication Arts.

Love, a piece by Tan, who graduated from the California College of the Arts, was inspired by a photo of his parents which was taken when they were in college in Shanghai.

"There may have been countless couples who, like my parents, made vows of love somewhere in Sinan," says Tan.

"Other works in this exhibition describe subtle moments in Shanghai, such as haircuts and public welfare scenes in our daily lives. I hope to recall some memories of Shanghai through my works," he adds.

According to Shi, a career as an illustrator has become increasingly popular among the younger generation. Hardly surprising, as more and more Chinese illustrators have been making a name for themselves around the world. One such person is Ni Chuanjing, who is also known as Victo Ngai, named as a Forbes 30 under 30 illustrator.

"You can see an increasing number of illustrators showcasing their artworks at places like the abC Art Book Fair in China or the UNFOLD Shanghai Art Bookfair," says Shi, 27, a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art in the US. "More Chinese are also choosing to study illustration abroad these days."

Another reason for this rise in popularity, Shi adds, is the increase in demand for illustrations.

"The income of illustrators is now higher and the source of work is more diversified than before. Illustrations used to appear only in print media, but the advent of e-commerce and digital media has created a greater demand," Shi says.

Zhou shares the same point of view as Shi.

"Companies dealing with real estate, fashion, product packaging, among others, are increasingly using illustrations to form closer relationships with their customers and this has had a positive impact on the profession," Zhou says. "The remuneration one gets from commercial illustration is also generally much higher than in print media, and this is also a factor."

As part of a nightlife festival, called Sinan Ye, that features live music, a night market, art carnival, and late-night dining options, the exhibition will last until Sept 5.

More than 60 kiosks have been set up to provide food, wine, cultural and art designs for visitors.

A pop-up flower market will also be held in light of the ongoing China Flower Expo in Chongming district.