Interview:
Ye Zhen
1. Tell us a little about yourself, what you do and like doing?
I’m Ye Zhen, 41 years old and I’m an indie local comic artist. I started drawing full time by myself in 2006 when I came back from Savannah Georgia USA after getting a degree in sequential art comics at SCAD. And I’ve been drawing 200-300 page volumes up to volume 12 thus far. I also play computer games, basketball,
listen to music and watch movies and look at obscure arty stuff be it manga or traditional or other interesting things here and thereabouts.
2. What makes you want to draw and submit your comics for the anthology?
I thought it would be a nice break to just draw 3 pages for the anthology as the current book volume I’m working on, volume 13 which is still ongoing inking, is roughly about 250 pages.
3. Share with us your art style, what has influenced you that makes you want to draw in the style you are advocating?
It is manga-influenced in terms of visuals. And maybe dialogue here and there is western and eastern influence. The 80s-2000s manga style which packs a punch visually influences me.
4. What do you think about when it comes to comics-making or publishing in Singapore?
Comics making and comics publishing in Singapore is still very small and indie and very few local book publishers believe in local comics. At least not as much as they do in Japan. Our industry is still very small. And we need new comic artists to come up with new stuff and comic books to oversee any next generation of local comics talent. We can’t just die off and rely on overseas comics. We need our voice and representation as well. So in terms of comic making and publishing in Singapore, we have a long road and journey to go through.
5. If money is not an issue, what would you like to pursue in comics?
I would like to experiment with all kinds of visual styles and all kinds of different comic stories to provide a unique comic reading experience for the viewer. So they can at least get their money’s worth or at least have a big visual literary impact or influence on their senses. Blow their minds literally.
