Yealife More than 600 award-winning illustrations from the past 3×3 International Illustration Awards are on display at Yealife Art Space. The competitions organized by the 3×3 magazine bring together illustrators, art directors, editors and graphic designers from around the world. The magazine, founded in 2003, is devoted entirely to the art of contemporary illustration. Highlighted illustrators at the exhibition include Alexandria Hall, Davide Bonazzi, Irena Freitas, Anna and Elena Balbusso, Fernando Cobelo and Aad Goudappel. Hall’s works contain themes of surreal mystery and subtle sensuality, portraying contrasting delicate yet sharp depictions of our world. Interested in how small unseen moments of connection can carry unbridled emotion and intrigue, Hall uses vivid expressions to create a dreamy world filled with mystery and warmth. She is inspired by a blend of Western and Eastern art traditions including the Japanese Superflat movement and Art Nouveau. Bonazzi has been working for major publishers, advertisers and institutions worldwide. His style combines digital and mixed media with textures of scanned found objects to give his bold conceptual illustrations a warm and evocative atmosphere. Freitas loves illustrating people, funny situations that happen in our daily life, and whimsical stories. With a deep knowledge of art history, the Balbusso twin sisters share a passion for illustration that has them working side by side. Their style has blossomed in 14 books for Black Cat Publishing, an Italian publisher of English-language classics for children. Cobelo is known for his clean and sometimes childish illustrations. He depicts universes full of surreal dreams and vivid nightmares that trigger our thoughts and move our feelings, with lines in which it might be easy finding fragments of ourselves. Goudappel delivers simple, but powerful illustrations. They translate complex ideas and abstract themes into powerful imagery. His distinctive style is characterized by the use of flat areas of color and the complete absence of lines. His mildly alienating images often contain multiple emotional layers that make his works both timeless and contemporary. Dates: Until June 26 Hours: 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Tickets: 69 yuan Venue: Yealife Art Space, 4/F, Yitian Holiday Plaza, Nanshan District (南山区益田假日广场四楼Yealife艺术空间) Metro: Line 1 or 2 to Window of the World Station (世界之窗站), Exit L Nantou Ancient Town Nantou Ancient Town has been turned into a colorful wonderland in this summer as the 8th China Illustration Biennial (CIB8) and IllusBoom Illustration Festival are being held along two streets inside the town. CIB8 exhibitions Illustrations from the CIB8 are on display at four venues inside Nantou Ancient Town. Dates: Until July 12 Hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Venues: 61-65 and 90, Zhongshan Street East (中山东街61-65号和90号); 71 and 72 Zhongshan Street South (中山南街71号和72号) ‘New Rules’ Twenty Chinese and international illustrators, including Flora Bai, Minji Moon and Joris de Raedt, are displaying their works. Bai is a member of the Shenzhen Illustration Association. Her works are recognized by the 3x3 magazine, American Illustration (AI-AP), Communication Arts, Creative Quarterly, Penguin Random House and the Rockefeller Center. She enjoys illustrating objects that are contradictory and uses intricate lines and the faded grayish colors. Moon is an illustrator and animator from South Korea. She enjoys creating bold visuals united by colorful yet simple shapes. De Raedt is a Belgian scientific illustrator and graphic designer visualizing the wonders of the natural world. Although working with a graphic tablet, his style pays homage to naturalists of the 19th century. “Translating my fascination with nature into aesthetic and functional content has always been my greatest passion. As a true believer in visual communication, I aim to connect people towards our precious fauna and flora. Growing up in a family in which exploring nature and observing wildlife was always the focal point of every holiday, I have been sketching nature as long as I can remember,” he said. Dates: Until July 12 Hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Venue: 7 Zhongshan Street East (中山东街7号) ‘New Project’ Eight illustrators will curate exhibitions and display their works every day (except June 13, 27) through July 12. Hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Venue: 6 Zhongshan Street East (中山东街6号) Shops Illustrators Yu Qinyu, Flora Bai and Li Ziyao have decorated three shops, Miaowangfu (喵王府), Amino Bake House (Amino烘焙) and Another Coffee (别处咖啡), inside Nantou Ancient Town. Visitors can not only enjoy illustrations in the shops but also buy co-branded products. Dates: Until July 12 Market Thirty-two illustrators will sell their works and merch at an outdoor market. Time: 5-9 p.m., June 17-19 Venue: Dajiale Square (大家乐广场) Add: Inside Nantou Ancient Town, Nanshan District (南山区南头古城内) Metro: Line 1 to Taoyuan Station (桃园站), Exit B and then walk north for 1.5 kilometers (SD News) | 