ABOUT
@bu_graphicdesign
@bostonpainting
@pmp.bu
@bostonsculpture
@buvisualnarrative
she/her
Dajia Zhou
WHAT ARE YOU THINKING
Dajia is an illustrator and storyteller who loves futuristic, conceptual, and playful illustrations and graphic narratives related to empathy. Her works are inspired by a variety of topics including daily life, current events, gossip, and mass media. She loves to use her imagination and cartoon her ideas in silly and humorous ways.
This graphic memoir What Are You Thinking explores the connection between Dajia’s personal growth and her passion for art, chronicling her artistic journey from childhood to adulthood.
Dajia’s childhood was filled with a passion for doodling, which set the stage for her seemingly destined artistic journey. She took weekend art classes in elementary school, endured intense art training in high school, and finished an undergraduate art degree. After a one-year gap during the pandemic, she flew 20 hours away from home to the United States to pursue graduate degrees in illustration and comics.
Amidst the academics of her graduate studies, she grapples with the intricacies of daily life in a foreign land. The challenges posed by language and cultural barriers serve as internal conflicts, compounded by the swelling waves of homesickness. Simultaneously, the looming unpredictability of a freelance career makes her begin to question whether her decision to pursue the path of art was the right one.
Digital drawing, 6 × 9 in.
Digital drawing, 6 × 9 in.
Digital drawing, 6 × 9 in.
Digital drawing, 6 × 9 in.
Digital drawing, 6 × 9 in.