1/10/13

The Artists


Best New Artist




It’s simple: no overthinking, just letting the pen freely illustrate the story.



Born in Taipei in 1985, Ahn Zhe currently works in his own studio. His work includes graphic design, illustration and storyboard design, but what he enjoys the most is art, drawing and writing. He dedicates most of his spare time in creative work, searching for newperspectives. Ahn Zhe hopes to awaken people’s sensitivity to beauty through common lessons in life that are often easily overlooked.

He’s inspired by old films and vinyl records, and loves anything retro. Things before
his time fascinate him, and his explores the glory days with child-like curiosity.

Ahn Zhe’s work is usually strongly experimental. His passion for historical elements can be seen in all of his work, be it a frame of an old film, lyrics from an old song, a tattered piece of furniture from WWII, or the people and places in the city that have been left behind in the advances of technologies. “I don’t like my work to look too neat, like it lacks feelings,” said Ahn Zhe, an old soul behind that young face, of his creative style between traditions and innovation.

Ahn Zhe plans to continue his experimental style. He believes his city, Taipei, has special elements, a dramatic atmosphere, where there are stories waiting to be told. Starting from home, he aspires to illustrate moving stories from his roots. And it’s this sense of mission and old soul that have earn him many international awards and accolades: his zero-dialogue comic has won out over 400 other contestants from around the world, and been selected as top 20 Best New Artist at 2013’s Angoulême International Comic Festival.