Artwork Collection

table for 1, please

“table for 1, please” is my graduation thesis. It explores the multifaceted nature of solitude and our relationship with food, by depicting the act of eating alone. Through honouring mundane moments that we spent by ourselves, these illustrations invite reflection on eating not only as a means to ease hunger but also as a ritual shaped by society, culture, and living experiences.

illustration thesis digital illustration

Illustration

side dish

When we eat alone, we often turn our attention to screens to fill the silence between the food and ourselves. This single-page comic depicts the lack of attention between humans and food. Too absorbed in their screen, the character becomes unaware... More

Illustration

under a lychee tree

Sitting under the lychee tree and enjoying the harvest while escaping from the world is what a perfect childhood summer afternoon feels like to spend by yourself. This illustration is about finding contentment and connecting to nature in... More

Illustration

in the crowd, by myself

This illustration depicts a moment of quiet retreat: turning away from a partying crowd. The character hides herself in a party cup, physically present but emotionally absent. The festive snack is no longer a source of enjoyment and celebration,... More

Illustration

is anyone looking at me?

Depiction of the fear of being judged when eating alone in public. The food becomes a mirror that reflects the character’s discomfort and the fear of not belonging.

Publication

a quick fix

What do you eat when you are rushing to a meeting starting in 2 minutes? What do you eat when you are rushing to subway ? This 8-page zine explores handy food choices at the time of haste. (The physical zine is printed in 3-colour risograph:... More

Illustration

comfort food is a map that guides a lonely person home

Food is a vessel of memory. Emotions like happiness, homesickness, frustration, and hope are tied to certain taste through our experience of sharing dishes with people in our lives. This is also what makes them sources of familiarity. In moments of... More

Work by

Yixin Chen aka. the19ave

Illustration

“Finding the uncanniness and the tenderness in mundane experience.”