Rooted in the vibrant cultural landscape of Taiwan, one NYU Abu Dhabi student's artistic journey stands out not for its polished perfection, but for its raw honesty and critical self-examination. Her story is a testament to the complex path of artistic growth, marked by ambition, self-doubt, and a commitment to understanding her own creative voice.

Ting-An is a sophomore at NYUAD majoring in Art and Art History whose artistic journey started when she was still in a diaper — when no wall in her house was safe from her and her markers. She is self-taught and draws inspiration for her art from her formative interest in comics and manga.

Growing up in Taipei, she drew from her deep connection to her local community during high school. She started an ambitious project that reflected her desire to make meaningful art. Driven by a passion for social issues, she focused on depicting the lives of homeless women — a demographic she felt was critically underrepresented.

"Iron Lady" showcases the way homeless women often hide in the darkest corners of the most vibrant cities, dependent on themselves and themselves only, even when it means fixing their broken parts on their own. Collage with a figure drawn in alcohol-based markers.

Her approach was unconventional: she blended social documentaries with sci-fi and fantasy elements, hoping to make these women's stories more accessible to her peers. The project, deeply rooted in her Taiwanese context, culminated in a high school art exhibition, complete with workshops led by social workers. She expressed her feeling of purpose in her art, “I felt like I was doing something, and I felt important as an artist-activist.”

Turning Point: Critical Self-reflection Everything changed during her freshman year at NYUAD, when she enrolled in a transformative course, "Inspiration, Art, and the Examined Life" with Professor Rana Almutawa. The class prompted a deep reevaluation of her previous work and artistic intentions.

"I realized I was not mature enough to responsibly handle such a weighty topic," she reflects. What she had once viewed as altruistic activism now appeared to her as an "ego trip" — a spectacle that potentially trivialized the very experiences she sought to highlight.

A "capsule" of Taiwan as I see it, from the mountains to local delicacies and the ever-present traces of Japanese colonization.

As her artistic journey evolved, her craft acted as a catalyst for expressing homesickness. In an intricate linocut print, she found both therapeutic release and a deeply personal way to celebrate her heritage. She crafted a complex visual narrative of Taiwan – a mosaic of street signs, cultural landmarks, and everyday life.

The piece became more than just an artwork; it was a nuanced exploration of identity, capturing the essence of her homeland through carefully chosen symbols – from the omnipresent 7-11 to the traditional Yonghe Soy Milk King. Each carved detail told a story of connection, memory, and belonging.

image A celebratory Lunar New Year for the year of the dragon; the phrase 祥龍獻瑞 (Xiáng lóng xiàn ruì) wishes for the dragon to bring good fortune.

Exploration and Growth Since her high school years, Ting-An has embraced a period of artistic exploration. Currently, she is experimenting with multiple mediums such as printmaking, sculpting, digital art, etc. In her exploration of artistic techniques, her work remains centered around creating art that brings her personal joy, all while critically examining her artistic identity and future direction.

A sculptural study of a hand gesture that has a multitude of meanings across different cultures; in Taiwan, the gesture stands for "death/to die," but I have been told by my Mexican friends that it is a gesture of agreement for them.

Walter White: My first time working with reduction linocut, using soy-based ink.

A portrait of Silco from the League of Legends animated series Arcane, painted in Procreate on iPad (and it was retweeted on Twitter by Silco's voice actor Jason Spisak!!!).

Broth Brawl: Inspired by both my love of ramen and my incomprehension of the way hardcore ramen enthusiasts devote their souls to crafting the “one perfect bowl”. Traditional drawing with alcohol-based markers.

A piece inspired by the opening scene of the video game Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice; a break from my usual character illustrations to practice drawing environments and architecture. Drawn in Procreate on iPad.

Fan art drawn around the time the Slam Dunk movie was released; I have fond memories of the anime as I used to watch it with my dad and read his decades-old collection of the original manga run. Drawn in Procreate on iPad.

Her art style, meaning, and passion behind the art have grown and changed along with her. The thing about artists, just like their art, is that if they really want to take a good look at how far they have come, they need to only take a step back. Ting-An’s art is ever-changing and includes an array of aspects of her identity.