Four Taiwan artists are set to showcase their works at comics festival SoBD Dec. 8-10 in Paris, strengthening international awareness of the nation’s vibrant publishing sector.
Local artists Fang Ruei-yi, Ho Hsueh-yi, Lin Li-chin and Weng Yu-hung will exhibit their published comics and share ideas at the booth organized by Taiwan Cultural Center in Paris. The Ministry of Culture said the festival is an excellent opportunity to build connections with industry professionals from around the world.
Ho and Lin are the most experienced of the four artists, having been nominated in the young talents competition at the Angouleme International Comics Festival—one of the largest comics events in the world—in 2016 and 2007, respectively.
Currently based in France, Ho specializes in illustrating dark comedies. Her self-published work “The Galactic Adventures with Mr. Rabbit” will feature at the event.
Lin will showcase her French-language publication “Fudafudak: The Place that Sparkles,” an illustrated work on Taiwan indigenous groups and their interactions with Mother Nature. Her previous comic book “Formose,” based on her childhood memories, was honored with an award from Paris-based Ile-de-France Regional Council.
According to the MOC, the other two participating Taiwan artists—Fang and Weng—were both selected to take part in this year’s residency program at Cite internationale de la bande dessinee et de l’image, an institution devoted to comics and illustrations based in western France’s Angouleme.
Fang is a graduate of U.K.-based Royal College of Art and held solo exhibitions across Taiwan from 2013-2015. Her latest self-published work, “Island Escape, My Dear Little Vexation Island,” will feature at the comics fair.
Weng’s “Save the Message” won Most Promising New Comic at the 2011 Golden Comic Awards, Taiwan’s most prestigious honor for comics artists. Her work “Big City Little Things” was nominated for Best Comic for Young Adults at the 2017 GCA.
Launched in 2011, the annual SoBD comprises a series of comic exhibitions, workshops and seminars. This year, around 150 artists and 40 publishers will participate in the festival. (CPY-E)
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