June Monstera

Forever grateful for the chance to learn from Grandma 💖 I hope I can go back soon and learn (and eat) some more 😁🤤 __________________________ #illustrationartist #belgianillustrator #artistresidency #travelingartist #chinatravel #chinastory #shanghai #chinatravel #artistontour #travelingartist #traveldiaries #zhujiajiao

My exhibition came to an end and I am very grateful for all the people who took the time out of their busy schedule to come see my art 🥰 This is my personal favorite and first "real" piece I drew in @acentricspace I like the high contrast due to the black and white, the pencil texture, the fact that it is an information poster mixed with comic elements and I like that it reminds me of a fun and lovely moment 🌟💖 __________________________ #illustrationartist #belgianillustrator #artistresidency #travelingartist #chinatravel #chinastory #shanghai #chinatravel #artistontour #travelingartist #traveldiaries #zhujiajiao

Going out to eat together was a common practice during my residency @acentricspace On my first and my last dinner out we went to the same spot. The small street where one restaurant follows another and people sit on plastic chairs under pavilions is the best place to find good Sichuan food. The Chinese province is known for its particularly spicy dishes. I learn that the dishes here, although prepared in the traditional way, are adapted to the Shanghai palate and are not as spicy as their originals. I really liked the coincidence that it was the same spot. It marked the evolution I made and also the change in the group over the months. Both times were very nice experiences, but the second time we were definitely more playful and exuberant with each other. _______________________________________ #illustrationartists #belgianillustartors #illustration #belgianillustrator #belgianart #artistsoninstagram #artistresidency #acentricspace #travelingartist #chinatravel #chinastory #shanghai #shanghailife #chinatravel #chinalife #thegreatwallofchina #nordvpn #veee #artistontour #traveladdict #travelingartist #traveldiaries #travelblogger #illustrationlog #sliceoflife

✨ Impressions of Zhujiajiao ✨ The swirl thingy is a red bean sticky rice roll (according to the internet. If you have the real name, drop it down below 🤓). I LOVE red bean fillings. Friendly reminder that this is the last week you can come visit my exhibition @brf.be 🥰 __________________________ #illustrationartist #belgianillustrator #artistresidency #travelingartist #chinatravel #chinastory #shanghai #chinatravel #artistontour #travelingartist #traveldiaries #zhujiajiao

I met Wendy on my first evening in Zhujiajiao. After an unsettling start, I took refuge in my room for a nap. In the early evening, hunger drove me to go out. After getting some groceries I walk to the nearby lake. As I'm sipping my peach drink, a greyhound approaches me and begs to be petted. I‘m certainly as surprised as Tutu‘s mistress Wendy, who comes over to me shortly afterwards. Later, when she recounts this moment of our encounter at the bar, she dramatically explains that she was totally surprised to see a “white” woman, alone, sitting on a bench with a bag of groceries. Apparently, she thought I‘d run away from home or been kicked out, which provokes loud laughter from the captivated audience. She recommended me the bar, Hoplava, where the owner brews his own beer according to a Belgian recipe. Without her my trip would not have been as amazing and filled with joy and wonder. She is one of the persons, who made it special and made me feel welcomed. 🥰 _______________________________________ #illustrationartists #belgianillustartors #illustration #belgianillustrator #belgianart #artistsoninstagram #artistresidency #acentricspace #travelingartist #chinatravel #chinastory #shanghai #shanghailife #chinatravel #chinalife #thegreatwallofchina #nordvpn #veee #artistontour #traveladdict #travelingartist #traveldiaries #travelblogger #illustrationlog #sliceoflife

The residence @acentricspace is located in a small, recent and modern housing complex. The small streets connecting the various houses, restaurants and stores are lined with numerous plants, bamboos and trees. My first impression is extremely positive. I'm sharing the residence with @lauraortego , a photographer from Argentina, @rvhekezen from the Netherlands, a talented painter and @yasmine.laraqui from Morocco, who continued writing her book during her stay. In the second month, @newcountrykid , a Korean Chinese artist who deals with social issues through video, @p3ap0d modern artist and pottery artist from USA and Russian graffiti artist @redzzz_roman joined the house. The artist couple who call themselves @ponks_collective followed in the middle of the month. @samalekksandra from Malta writes mainly poetry, and @julien.vinet , who is originally from France creates modern works and installations. So the house and studios were full, and the atmosphere was fun, hard-working and inspiring. _______________________________________ #illustrationartists #belgianillustartors #illustration #belgianillustrator #belgianart #artistsoninstagram #artistresidency #acentricspace #travelingartist #chinatravel #chinastory #shanghai #shanghailife #chinatravel #chinalife #thegreatwallofchina #nordvpn #veee #artistontour #traveladdict #travelingartist #traveldiaries #travelblogger #illustrationlog #sliceoflife

More Impressions of Old Town 🥰 My exhibition is still going until the 22nd of December and open every day! ⚡️ __________________________ #illustrationartist #belgianillustrator #artistresidency #travelingartist #chinatravel #chinastory #shanghai #chinatravel #artistontour #travelingartist #traveldiaries #zhujiajiao

Last week's Vernissage. An impression. It still feels unreal that I was able to share my experience and impressions of China with so many lovely people in my first solo exhibition. As I said in my little speach nothing of that would have been possible without all the help I got along the way. Without support and community my life, our life, would feel different, and regardless of how alone we might feel we always stand on the shoulders of our community and society as a whole. My exhibition is still open every day and on the weekends I will be there from 13 to 17 o'clock. Hope to see you there 🥰 @brf.be _________________________________ #illustration #illustrationartists #belgianillustartors #traveldiaries #womanartist #watercolorpainting #belgianart #eupenlives #eupen

Zhūjiājiǎo literally translates as “the Zhu family's point of land”. According to Wendy the Zhu are an ancient fishing family. According to Wikipedia Zhujiajiao is around 1700 years old. The town has gone by various names, starting with Zhujiacun which means “Zhu family village”. 🪝🐟 In the village's historic center, which the locals simply call “Old Town”, lies a veritable network of canals. Along the-se canals, you'll still find two- and three-storey terraced houses built by the middle-class bourgeoisie from around the 16th century onwards. On the street side, the first floor is usually occupied by a store or workshop opening onto the street, while on the canal side, cafés and restaurants have large bay windows or verandas. ___________________________________________________ #illustrationartists #belgianillustartors #illustration #belgianillustrator #belgianart #artistsoninstagram #artistresidency #acentricspace #travelingartist #chinatravel #chinastory #shanghai #shanghailife #chinatravel #chinalife #thegreatwallofchina #nordvpn #veee #artistontour #traveladdict #travelingartist #traveldiaries #travelblogger #illustrationlog #sliceoflife

It‘s at the Dragon Boat Festival that I meet Wendy‘s “granma”. The elderly woman she lives with welcomed her with open arms when she moved to Zhujiajiao. The two met on a walk around the lake through Tutu, as did Wendy and me. 🐕 We‘re invited to dinner because the Dragon Boat Festival is a holiday to be celebrated with family. One of her three sons is there too, an engineer, a charming man who speaks good English. Unfortunately, I can‘t converse with “granma”, but Wendy translates that she‘s very proud to see her son so competent and accomplished. I send her compliments on the meal and we settle the rest with shared glances and smiles. 👁👄👁 After the meal, which consisted of numerous small vegetable and meat dishes that were delicious, granma shows me her garden. The sun is beating down on us and the rural neighborhood is very quiet except for the crickets. 🌱🍆 _________________________________ #illustrationartists #belgianillustartors #illustration #belgianillustrator #belgianart #artistsoninstagram #artistresidency #acentricspace #travelingartist #chinatravel #chinastory #shanghai #shanghailife #chinatravel #chinalife #thegreatwallofchina #nordvpn #veee #artistontour #traveladdict #travelingartist #traveldiaries #travelblogger #illustrationlog #sliceoflife

During my stay I loved to get lost in Zhujiajiao's beautiful "old town"❤ From the crooked old pavement, to the yummy red bean "cakes", to the pittoresque sceneries and intricate wooden frames, it inspired me a lot. __________________________ #illustrationartist #belgianillustrator #artistresidency #travelingartist #chinatravel #chinastory #shanghai #chinatravel #artistontour #travelingartist #traveldiaries #zhujiajiao

During my stay I could not only see the master Lou-gē brewing and taste a lot of his amazing beers, but also illustrate the new label for his signature IPA. 🤩 The name of his IPA is "Water town IPA" so naturally I wanted to show old towns beauty. The first two images are my initial idea, a view of the temple in old town. It was then that I learned, that there are many other "old towns" and even many "old water towns" that were preserved in China. Each of them are a great tourist attraction. 🧐 Many of them are bigger and more popular than Zhujiajiao as far as I understood it. What makes Zujiajiao special though is the Fangsheng bridge from the 16th century. She is 70,8 meters long, 5,8 meters wide and a real beauty. So the bridge I drew. In an A3 size this rather simple Illustration is made using traditional Chinese ink cakes and a fine brush. A medium I learned to love for its matte blacks and vivid gradients 🖤🩶🤍 _____________________________________ @lawrence_lou_1900 #chineseinkart #zhujiajiao #travelingartist #belgianillustrator #illustrationartists #belgianillustartors #belgianart #artistsoninstagram #artistresidency #shanghai #chinatravel #artistontour #traveladdict #traveldiaries