RECORDING EVERY JOURNEY

"When visiting cites such as Moscow, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Taipei, Russian artist Evgeny Bondarenko stands along the street and draws what he sees for hours at a time."

"Travelers upload photos or "check in" on social media to prove they have been to a certain place, use needle and thread to embroider a landmark onto something or mail postcards to themselves to remember their experiences.

Evgeny Bondarenko believes that the best way to record his travels is with paper and pen. Whenever in a new city, he doesn't visit its famous attractions first. Instead, he strolls through its lanes and alleys, looking for beauty among scenes of everyday life.

After earning a degree in drawing and a gold medal at the All-Russian Delphic Games, he began his art career in Moscow in 2010, drawing street scenes, even when it was 15 degrees below zero! In 2013, he was invited to exhibit his works in Shanghai, which led to his connection with East Asian cities. Bondarenko has visited more than 25 cities, but now plans to stay in Taiwan for some time."

"STREET SCENES ARE NEVER BORING"

"When he was living in Russia, Bondarenko says he had to drive at least half an hour to find places with enough variation for him to draw. However, in Hong Kong every street corner was like a new adventure. From Hong Kong's Central to the coast is only about a 15-minute walk, but there are completely different landscapes. In his illustration, HK Lai-king Metro, he records part of this subway station with the building ingeniously shaped to resemble a cavern, set off by bright blue sky and white clouds. Most people traveling and living in Taipei do not think of underpasses as places to admire. But, for Bondarenko, they remind him of the rabbit hole in Alice in Wonderland. There are many exits to choose from, each leading to a different world."

"To enable people to gain a sense of what Taiwan is like, Bondarenko incorporates aspects of daily life into his works. For example, in illustrations that include the famous skyscraper Taipei 101, cyclists and shop signs are most prominent. To experience this artist's perspectives on city life, visit the Hakka Museum of New Taipei City where his works are currently on display until October 14"