TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Stellina Chen, a Taiwanese cartoonist, has found her calling in political cartoons, contributing her work to foreign media outlets such as French publication Le Monde and Taiwanese media News Lens International. However, her journey to becoming a political cartoonist was not a straight path.
Chen initially studied diplomacy and landed a job related to the field after graduation. After only three months, she left the job to pursue her passion for drawing. Chen fell back into drawing with ease, having loved it since she was young.
As a Taiwanese artist, Chen brings a unique perspective to her work when approaching global topics, particularly when discussing cross-strait relationships. She notes that she includes a "personal angle" in her drawings but does not necessarily take a pro- or anti-independence stance. Instead, she tries to incorporate her Taiwanese identity into her work naturally.
Chen spends around two to four hours on each artwork, depending on how quickly she can find an angle or perspective. She often looks for news articles and online references to find inspiration, extracting elements related to the story to emphasize in her work.
Despite not defining her artworks as "thought-provoking," Chen hopes her drawings can bring a smile to readers' faces or raise awareness of global issues. She notes that her drawings are often a visual commentary on what is happening in the world.
Humor and a strong message are essential components of Chen's creations. She is currently working on a comic book in which significant politicians in the world are placed in a school setting, attempting to run for class president. The project encourages discourse and discussion while providing a humorous twist on real-life events.
