{"id":23679,"date":"2026-07-01T15:19:35","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T13:19:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.hahnemuehle.com\/en\/?p=23679"},"modified":"2026-07-02T14:21:38","modified_gmt":"2026-07-02T12:21:38","slug":"finding-the-extraordinary-in-the-ordinary-cheng-kai-hsiangs-world-of-urban-observation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.hahnemuehle.com\/en\/finding-the-extraordinary-in-the-ordinary-cheng-kai-hsiangs-world-of-urban-observation\/","title":{"rendered":"Finding the extraordinary in the ordinary \u2013 Cheng Kai-Hsiang\u2019s world of urban observation"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text][\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text css=””]Hi Cheng, thank you very much for taking the time to talk to us!\u00a0<\/strong>We are delighted to feature you in our new blog interview and to learn more about your creative journey.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]First, please briefly introduce yourself and your personal background. Who are you, what are you passionate about, and how have these passions led you to where you are today?\u00a0 <\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]Hello, I\u2019m Cheng Kai-Hsiang<\/a>. I live in Pingtung, Taiwan. I\u2019m a painter and also an author.\u00a0In 2013, I came across the creative lifestyle advocated by \u201cUrban Sketchers<\/a>\u201d. The attitude they promote and their diverse styles deeply moved me. From that point on, it was as if a whole new world opened up for me. I realized that everything around us could be turned into a painting. As I walked down the street, I started observing details in search of subjects, and in doing so, discovered many interesting scenes in the city.<\/p>\n

For me, painting allowed me to rediscover the city, fall in love with it, and then realize that the city\u2019s memories were disappearing quickly. So I began combining painting with writing to document things, and later made this documentation the main focus of my creative work, using publications to accumulate my works and share my creative philosophy.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”23699″ img_size=”full” css=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]How would you describe your style, and how has it evolved over time? Have specific influences shaped your style?<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text css=””]In my early days, I went through formal art training, so I\u2019ve painted still lives and plaster casts. But during my studies and my time in military service, I wasn\u2019t yet a professional painter, so I never really thought about style. Besides, my teachers never talked about what \u201ccreative work\u201d meant. For me back then, painting was just a childhood hobby, without a clear goal.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]In 2013, I encountered Urban Sketchers, and that truly changed my painting habits. By then I had become a full-time creator. Over the past ten years, I\u2019ve constantly searched for subjects that represent me and asked myself what I want my work to convey. After writing and publishing books like *Street House Taiwan* and *Hundred Stalls Taiwan*, I came to understand that creativity comes from life. You need to stay in a place for a longer time, connect with it, and only then can you see the extraordinary in the ordinary.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]But these fleeting moments in daily life are easily overlooked. I\u2019ve always felt a need to speak up for these \u201csmall things.\u201d So \u201ccarrying a sense of \u2018reluctance to let go\u2019 to document the ordinary little things in daily life\u201d became the core spirit of my work. And because I am both a painter and an author, I\u2019ve come to call myself an \u201curban observation painter,\u201d moving from city to city and creating as I go.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”23688″ img_size=”full” css=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

Could you tell us about the books you\u2019ve published?\u00a0 <\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]I\u2019ve published six books so far. The better-known one is probably *Street House Taiwan*. This book not only earned me the Eslite Best Newcomer of the Year award in 2019, but was also translated into Japanese, French, and Spanish. It records interesting houses I discovered while wandering around Taiwan. These houses aren\u2019t necessarily \u201ctypically beautiful,\u201d but they have a rich sense of life that gives them a unique character.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]Later, I published *Hundred Stalls Taiwan*, which categorizes and introduces various kinds of street vendors in Taiwan based on their display and mobility. Both books focus on Taiwan, documenting and introducing local culture. There\u2019s also a technique book, *Sketch Taiwan*, which introduces my tools and painting steps\u2014good for readers who want to learn the craft.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”23692″ img_size=”full” css=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]After that, I published *Rain Port Colors*, *Sunshine Pingtung*, and *Chronicles of Pingtung City*. Unlike my earlier books on Taiwan as a whole, these focus on single cities. For example, *Rain Port Colors* is based on my nearly two years of living and observing in Keelung. *Sunshine Pingtung* and *Chronicles of Pingtung City* are the result of five years of documenting Pingtung. Each city\u2019s record has its own unique flavor, and all are worth exploring.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”23690″ img_size=”full” css=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]You\u2019re known for painting cityscapes. Which cities have left a deep impression on you, and which would you recommend for sketchers to visit?\u00a0 <\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]I\u2019ve lived in Keelung and Kinmen for nearly two years each, and both have incredibly rich local characteristics.<\/p>\n

Keelung, known for its port, has a unique harbor landscape. As you walk through the city, you can see huge cruise ships docked at the port and black kites soaring in the sky. The bustling markets are filled with countless local snacks. Even in the early morning, there\u2019s a \u201cnight-only\u201d fish market. To me, it\u2019s a city full of life, quite raw and vibrant. Surrounded by hills, visitors can quickly change their perspective of the city\u2014great for those who want to paint mountains, sea, and cityscapes.<\/p>\n

Kinmen is known for its Hokkien culture, overseas Chinese heritage, and wartime relics. The landscape isn\u2019t as bustling as a big city, but it retains a lot of pristine, rustic atmosphere. Though Kinmen is small, its cultural richness is immense. You can see understated yet elegant red-brick buildings, as well as grand, ornate western-style houses left behind by early emigrants who made good and returned home. For those interested in military history, Kinmen also has many early military relics. Senior local artists who have worked there for decades often say, \u201cKinmen is endless for sketching.\u201d I highly recommend it.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Is there a particular theme or project that you are especially proud of? If so, what makes it special to you?\u00a0 <\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text css=””]The most memorable documentation for me is the \u201cPingtung West Market.\u201d Although it\u2019s not a well-known market, during the process I went from being questioned about my motives by the vendors to gradually being accepted and even liked. Eventually, after relocating, some shop owners used my paintings as their new store signs. There were many complicated emotions along the way.\u00a0In the past, when documenting a place, I inevitably felt a little \u201cpride,\u201d as if what I was doing was something great. But during this process, I realized that not every vendor was unwilling to see the market demolished\u2014some actually wanted it gone. So a few vendors didn\u2019t approve of my documentation. This was an important lesson for me, teaching me to empathize with the subjects I document from different angles.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”23686″ img_size=”full” css=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Moreover, documenting a shop in a way is also a form of \u201cconsumption\u201d of that shop. What we paint is not just a storefront; it carries the shop owners\u2019 emotions, frustrations, and hopes. We should face this with humility and seriousness. I experienced the splendor of the West Market just before it disappeared, witnessed its demolition, and saw the new market built. It was a very complete and deeply felt documentation experience.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text css=””]How has your military service helped your artistic creation? <\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]I served in the military for ten years. During that time, I was busy with work and didn\u2019t have many opportunities to use my painting skills. But looking back, perhaps that\u2019s why I got used to documenting things in relatively basic conditions, using small pockets of time.<\/p>\n

I always carried a notebook with me, where I recorded meeting notes, daily thoughts, and casual sketches. These weren\u2019t masterpieces, but they were very \u201cpure\u201d and important records of daily life\u2014a habit that continues to influence me today.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”23693″ img_size=”full” css=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”23691″ img_size=”full” alignment=”right” css=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]What are your favorite art materials, especially paper? Why do you choose these materials, and what do you appreciate most about them?<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]My most used materials are watercolor and a fountain pen with a calligraphy nib. I choose this combination because I love the convenience of watercolor, its vibrant colors, and the effects of water blending. The calligraphy nib\u2019s varied lines are also a reason I prefer it.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text css=””]My most used sketchbook is the *Hahnem\u00fchle Watercolor Book 200gsm A5<\/a>*. Over the years, whenever I visit an art supply store, I often try out interesting notebooks. But after trying so many, I always come back to Hahnem\u00fchle.\u00a0First, I love the lay-flat binding and solid construction. The hardcover gives the notebook both a nice feel and good protection. The paper thickness is 200g\u2014just right. Any thinner, and it might not handle multiple layers of washes; any thicker, and it feels a bit heavy, lacking a sense of lightness. 200g is perfect for me. The paper has a slight texture, which works well for pen or fineliner line work\u2014the lines flow smoothly. I especially love the water stain effects from color interacting with water. Hahnem\u00fchle paper excels at capturing these subtle color variations. That\u2019s why it remains my top choice.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”23698″ img_size=”full” css=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]