Syndicated from Design China
Wang Sijia is an illustrator based in Beijing. EightSix caught up with the artist to ask him some questions about practicing as an illustrator in China.
Could you tell us a bit about yourself, and how you ended up on the road to design?
My name is Wang Sijia, and I’m from Heilongjiang Province. After graduating from college in 2009, I moved to Beijing. When I was younger, I loved to draw and it all stemmed from there. I never thought about design as a career – I just did it at home because I enjoyed it, but this is how I learnt and became better. I love to paint and this has followed me throughout my life so far.
What does your design process entail?
I like to design what I am doing on a single page, with some small editing, before committing myself to a large mural. In my spare time, I often sketch out ideas and, if I like any of them, I will carry on in the evening before starting afresh the next day.
Could you explain your process when painting?
I improvise a lot – in these instances there is less paper planning. I like the freedom you get from working like this. There are no constraints.
Who or what inspires you?
It’s quite simple really: daily life and the internet. The internet has opened up my world and allowed me to learn a lot of new things.
You have completed many projects for large companies. Which are you most proud of?
A while ago, I did some work for Li Ning (a large sportswear company in China) and also I have designed skins for the Audi R8.
What do you think of Chinese design? Do you think cities like Beijing, Shanghai or Shenzhen will ever become known for design as, for example, London or New York are?
It is still in the developmental stage. It still needs time. Right now, the system is not perfect (with regards to design education) and there is a lot of disparity in China with many wider ranging issues. At the moment, we are still imitating most of the time. Many designers do not have their own style and their work is very similar to those of the West. All we can do is do a good job and work hard to improves ones own style.
Do you think you will remain living in Beijing?
For now, Beijing is great. There’s a lot of opportunity, and if you seek work and collaborations, then you can achieve anything. Beijing is very diverse – you can see a lot of contrasts and a lot of invisible things. Perhaps I will leave one day though. House prices are much too high!
