哈囉，Issac! 請你介紹一下你自己吧！
Hello Isaac! Please
introduce yourself!
我是來自新加坡的聽障插畫家。平常是接商業化的插畫工作。沒有人知道我為什麼會聽不見，而我的母親也是在健康的狀態下懷我的，我是家族中唯一的聽障者。在我開始學習透過用語言跟這個世界溝通之前，我很自然地就開始用畫畫來溝通了。沒有人告訴我應該要怎麼畫，我只是拿起手邊的蠟筆、色鉛筆然後就到處畫畫了。
I am a deaf freelancing illustrator from
Singapore. I do commercial illustrations. Nobody knows why I was born deaf. My mother is healthy when she
carried me. I am the only deaf member in my whole family generation. Before I
learned communicating with the world, drawing becomes very natural to me. No
one taught me how to draw. I just picked up the crayons and color pencils and
draw anyhow.
你是從小就開始畫畫嗎？
When did you start to draw, since you were a child?
是的。在我開始學習英文之前，畫畫就是我的母語。我的父母只說中文和一點點英文，因此我們都是透過比手畫腳來溝通，唯一能和我用英文溝通的是我的姊姊。
Yes. Drawing is my first native language. Before I
learnt a language: English. I have difficulty communicating with my
Chinese-speaking parents. Their English is limited. We use gestures. I speak
simple English words to my mother. I only have a sister. I speak English to her
all the time.
為什麼沒有學中文？
Why didn’t you learn
Chinese?
這是一個很好的問題。我去的聾啞學校並沒有教我中文。在新加坡，所有人第一個學習的語言都是英文，所謂的母語（像是中文、馬來文、坦米爾語）對我們來說反而是第二語言，再加上我有學習語言的障礙，因此我只專注在英語學習上。我曾經參加過基礎的中文課程，但是在我結束課程以後，很快又忘記了所學過的一切，因為大家都說英文。
Good question, my parents sent me to a deaf school
where the mother tongue is not taught.
In Singapore, everyone learns mother tongue
(Chinese, Malay and Tamil) as a second language as a child, I had difficulty
learning the languages, so I sticked with the English language all the time.
When I got older, I attended basic Chinese classes. After I finished the
classes, I forgot completely what I have learned, because everyone can speak
English all the time in Singapore.
你還記得你小時候畫過的圖嗎？
Then, what did you draw when
you were child? Can you still remember?
那時還太小了，我現在已經記不得了，我想我當時應該是透過自由自在的畫畫傳達我的想法吧。
I was too young to remember what I drew exactly, I
guess I had expressed out my feelings freely through random drawings.
我小的時候還滿喜歡畫圖的，總是畫一畫以後貼到我房間的牆上。你還有收藏著你小時候的作品嗎？
I drew a lot as a child, and
I always drew it and pin it on the wall in my bedroom. Do you still have your
drawings as a child home?
非常遺憾的並沒有保留任何一個作品。因為我都畫在舊家裡的櫥櫃跟牆上了。
Unfortunately, no. I drew everything on my parents'
cupboards and mine and on the walls in my former home.
原來如此。那是從小就決定要當一個畫家嗎？
oh, I see. Did you decide to
be an artist when you were a child?
是的！我實現了我從小的願望。畫畫讓我感到幸福。
Yes, I fulfilled my childhood dream! Drawing gives
me happiness.
為什麼沒有念純藝術，反而選擇了數位媒體設計？
Why did you study digital media design instead of art?
當時的我並不知道究竟想要做些什麼事情，藝術的範圍又很廣，於是選擇了數位媒體設計。
I was not sure of what I want to do in life. Art is very general. So I studied animation specialization, Digital Media Design.
你比較喜歡手繪還是電繪？對你來說用這兩種方式畫圖有什麼差別嗎？手繪的時候，又是怎麼決定每一個作品要用哪一種方式畫圖的？
Do you prefer draw by hand or computer? What’s the difference for you? And how do you choose the way you draw?
我覺得兩種方式都很好，但我更喜歡用手繪的方式作畫。傳統的畫圖方式雖然很好，但是並不適合現在的市場模式，因此我很高興我同時擁有兩種技能。
Both are good. But I prefer the traditional feel more. The traditional works are good but nowadays, it is very hard to get traditional work projects. Thus, I do digital works as well. It’s good I have both digital and traditional skills.
通常是看心情決定要用水彩還是用鋼筆畫圖的。如果天氣太熱，我就只用鋼筆，如果天氣不錯，那我就用水彩（笑）。很多時候其實是畫畫的地方會給給我一些靈感來決定作畫的工具。我畫我眼睛所看到的事物，我的作品都是觀察來的。舉例來說，人們的動作、心情就是動畫、有動作的，我就會選用鋼筆來記錄那個瞬間。
Well, to use pen or water color, it depends on my mood. If the weather is too hot, I use ink only, if the weather is good, I use watercolor (laugh). Sometimes, the places will inspire me to use specific method. I paint what I see, it is all about observation. For example, people's action and emotion are about animation and acting, then I will use pen to catch the moment.
我喜歡你畫的畫，你在HPSG50所畫的人像和其他有人的作品都給我一種溫暖的感覺，你所觀察到的世界似乎和我們所看到的世界不同。
I like your drawing, the
portrait you drew in HPSG50 and the other projects include people in it give me
a warm feeling, and you seems to have different eyes to see the world that we
don't see.
因為聽不見，讓我有更好的觀察力。我喜歡觀察和解讀人們的穿著、個性以及心情。每當我完成一件作品的時候總會覺得很愉快並滿足，就像是跑完了全程的馬拉松一樣！
Deafness give me an extra edge ( sixth sense): a sense of
observation. I like to observe and study people in terms of fashion taste,
personality and personal emotions. I feel very good, happy and achieved when I
finished the project; it is like finishing the marathon.
我讀到一篇關於你的報導中說，每一個新案子的開始前，你都會希望能面對面的跟顧客見面、溝通，為什麼？
I read that when you have
new project, you would like to meet your clients first face to face. Why and
what’s the difference?
我的英文並沒有非常好，有時候很多單字對我來說是難以理解的，電子郵件的內容太長也是一個問題。和我的顧客面對面的溝通，透過紙跟筆的交談會讓我們更快達成共識。
Yes! My English is not good. Sometimes the words
are too difficult for me to understand, and sometimes the emails are way too
long. Face to face meeting helps me understand better and save the time, we can
discuss through paper and pen.
那什麼會啟發你？
What inspire you?
人以及建築物？
People! Buildings!
太好了，那我們就來聊聊你在台灣這半個月來的生活經驗吧！你喜歡這裡嗎？
Great, so that's talk about
the experiences in Taiwan. Do you like it here?
當然！我非常喜歡這裡！融合了現代與傳統的建築物們非常的美麗且吸引人，我特別喜歡在日治時期所建造的房子。這裡的的廟宇我也很喜歡，除了設計和新加坡的廟宇不同以外，每當我走進這裡的廟宇時，總有回到過去的感覺。台灣的食物跟飲料我也很喜歡，非常好吃又便宜啊！
Of course, I love it! The buildings are
fascinating. They are mixed
with modern and traditional architectural designs. I like the homes
which were built during Taiwan under Japanese rule and I like the temples here, the architectural design are varied to
temples in Singapore. I feel that I went back to the past when I entered the temples. And I love Taiwanese food
and beverage, they are very delicious and cheap!!!
你怎麼會決定來台南短居？
What brought you to Tainan?
A friend, Ly Yeow, came here before. I saw her
photos. I asked myself, "why don't I come here?" And another reason is I like traveling
and working like a nomad.
我去年有在星球遇過她！她給了我很多去新加坡旅行的好建議啊！
I met her when
she was in Planett last year! She gave me many great tips for traveling in Singapore!
當我看到她在星球拍的一些照片以後，我大吃一驚。照片裡的星球看起來是個適合工作、睡覺而且美麗又舒適的環境，而這裡實際上也是。我還記得當我詢問她關於這裡的事情時，她說：「去吧！出發吧！」因此我就來到這裡了。
I said," WOW!" when she posted
the photos which are made in Planett. It look like a beautiful and nice place to work and sleep and it does. I still
remember that when I asked her about Planett, she said,"Go Go!" That’s why I
decided to come here.
我在新加坡的家裡只有小小的房間和不大的桌子，因此我很享受在這裡工作的時間，讓我可以更專注在我的工作上。
My table and room are very small in Singapore, I
enjoy staying here in Planett, in this good environment I can focus on my
projects well.
這是你第一次來台灣嗎？
Is this your first visit to
Taiwan?
不，這已經是我第二次來台灣了。我第一次來的時候是跟我的家人一起，獨自一人在台灣的旅行所帶來的挑戰遠比當時多更多，但是是很有趣的冒險經驗。語言和溝通是我在這裡生活時必須要克服的障礙，於是點菜時我總是指指菜單上的圖片，偶而也會直接點跟隔壁桌一樣的菜來吃！
No, it’s my 2nd time. My first time is with my
family. This time I face much more challenges as a solo adventurer, but
it is fun! Language and communication are barriers that I need to overcome. I point at the
pictures on the food menu. Sometimes I see someone eating the food, I simply
point out at his food and order it.
幾天前我搭計程車去國立歷史博物館，並告訴司機請在下午五點來接我，但是時間到了，那位司機卻沒有出現，我這才意識到，他可能並沒有真的理解我的意思。國立歷史博物館位在一個有點偏僻的地方（但我不後悔跑這麼遠去參觀！），不會中文又無法講電話的我自然也無法打電話叫車，於是我走向一個路人請他幫忙，他也說這裡太偏遠很難有車，於是他就騎著機車去幫我找計程車，最後他真的帶著一台計程車回來接我，我非常的感動也非常的感謝他。
A few days ago, I told a taxi driver to pick me up
at 5 after we reached at National Museum of Taiwan History. After 5pm, he
didn't appear again. (National Museum of Taiwan History is not convenient to
travel but I didn't regret my decision to visit). I realized I may have miscommunicated with
him and I assumed he would come at 5pm. Because of my deafness and my Chinese
illiteracy, it is indeed very hard to call out a taxi by phone on my own. I had
to approach a passer-by for help. Since there was hardly any taxi around, he
told me to wait for him and he rode his motorcycle to find taxi for me. He
indeed did that when he returned with a taxi behind him. I feel very touched and
grateful.
這故事也太感人！是說我發現你的作品中也有一系列是在路上或是在捷運裡的速寫，怎樣的故事題材會是你有興趣的啊？
Oh, the story is very
touched! I see you draw a lot of sketch in MRT, and on the streets. What kind of topics will you
draw?
在路上或是在車裡速寫是我寫歡做的事情啊，當我拿著紙跟筆在畫圖的時候人們總是拿著手機。時尚、個性、感覺…，任何的事物對我來說都有可能是有趣的！有的時候我也會只畫手跟腳作為練習。
That’s what I love to do! People are always with
phones while I use paper and pen to practice my skills. Anything can be interesting to
me, it could be fashion, personality, feelings. Sometimes I draw hands and foot only for practice.
如果不是因為上了動畫課程，我不會是現在的我。因為這堂課，我學會如何去描繪人們、不同的視角、動態影像和插畫。五年前，我第一次在捷運上畫圖便是因為一位老師帶我們去進行這個活動，而我馬上就愛上了做這件事！
I would not be who I am today, if I didn’t
take the animation course. I learned how to sketch people, draw perspective,
motion graphic and illustration. A teacher once took us to MRT for sketching
session. it was my first time sketching in the train and I immediately fell in
love with it. It happened 5 years ago.
你的日常生活是怎樣的？
Then how's your daily life
like?
我早上十點起床，在開始工作之前就先檢查電子信箱，然後開始畫畫。午餐之後我會去健身房，晚餐後也會繼續工作。
I wake up at 10 and check email before starting
working. I doodle. After lunch, I go to fitness studio and then continue
working after dinner.
你對現在的生活還滿足嗎？
Are you satisfied with your
life so far?
滿足但還不夠，我需要更多的學習並練習我的技巧。我平常也會透過schoolism和New Master Academy這兩個網路平台學習。
Yes but not enough. I need to learn
more and practice my skills. I learn online in schoolism and New
Master Academy.
未來有什麼計劃或是目標嗎？
What's your
plan or goal for the future?
我想要透過一邊旅行、一邊工作的模式在全世界移動，不過首先我必須要先存錢！我希望有一天能夠出版旅遊書以及由我創作、繪圖的兒童繪本！
I plan to travel-work around the world but of
course I need to save up money first. I hope to publish my travel book and to
write, illustrate and publish my children book one day!
最後，請你描述一下你自己。
Last question! Please describe yourself.
我是一個熱愛生活中的挑戰且很有熱情的插畫家。
I am a passionate sketcher and illustrator who
loves challenges in life.
Issac Liang
