@syhsyh_design​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Instagram: @syhsyh_design  

1. What's your story? Where are you from?

Hi I'm Syh, a British illustrator / architect from London.

2. Tell us about your aesthetic.

I do isometric illustrations based around people and how they interact with architecture.

3. What is your favourite medium and why?

I mainly use illustrator and photoshop to create my work then screen-print the finished result. I like the precision that working digital gives me and the ability to experiment without the risk of ruining the entire piece. By screen printing the finished piece I allow the the work have an analog dimension to it as well.

4. What is your artistic process like?

I stockpile images of architecture, people, places and colour schemes that I like then take it from there. First it's the lines, then the shadows and colour, then the occupants… then the stupid little unnecessary details that no one will ever notice.

5. Who and/or what inspires your work?

I'm inspired by people that fail and just keep trying regardless. It’s so easy just to not bother or come up with an excuse not to do something - people that say “why not? let’s give it a go!”. I recently tried to brew my own beer - it was terrible - but heck! I gave it a try, learnt a lot and I'll give it another crack! Also Stanley Kubrick.

6. What role does art play in your life? How does it change the way you view the world?

In drawing architecture to a high degree of accuracy you have to know how the building works and functions. Sometimes even drawing a basic terraced house you'd normally walk past everyday without the slightest thought makes you appreciate just how good/bad/weird/unusual it is. You can reframe the way in which you look at things - some things are terrible, but others on closer inspection are in fact quite amazing.

7. Where did you study?

I studied architecture in Brighton then did my masters degree in London. I’m currently studying a wood router and whether I can use it to build some plywood shelving.

8. Where do you see yourself in five years? Working in an agency?

Working in architecture and illustration. Enjoying life with my family, friends and a pet dog.

9. What about in ten?

See above. *two pet dogs.

10. What do you hope to achieve with your art?

A lot of my work is based around brutalist architecture and how overwhelmingly large constructions are appropriated at the human scale. People can find huge constructions so oppressing but often how people live in them are fascinating and inventive. I also draw a lot of isometric maps with an inappropriate amount of detail - I like the idea of someone seeing my work and saying "hey! that's my house and they drew the chimneys exactly right!"

11. Now, tell us a little more about you as a person: what is your favourite food?

Anything spicy. I recently tried a fox curry at an art exhibition - it wasn’t great.

12. Favourite book?

The 'Where's Wally?' book series have had a larger influence on my work than I'm probably willing to admit.

13. Favourite genre of music?

It's easy to say what I don't like; acid jazz is a musical genre that I am yet to get my head round.

14. What are your hobbies?

I brew beer - as previously mentioned - to varying degrees of success.

15. If you weren't an artist, what would you be?

I'd be an architect - which I am - but if I’d didn’t also do illustration I’d probably be depressed just drawing cavity wall details and disabled toilet layouts.