The differences between Eastern and Western cultures are at the heart of Leah Han’s dreamlike artworks. Originally from the Chinese city of Chengdu, the illustrator moved to Berlin in 2023 in order to broaden her practice, and is now based between her two homes.

“Chengdu and Berlin are so different, yet each feeds a distinct part of me – and both are clearly reflected in my work. Chengdu’s laid-back pace, its sunny tea-drinking afternoons, the subtle emotion of its people – these shaped the emotional and fluid quality of my lines. But when I’m in Berlin, something else wakes up in me. Berlin feels dynamic, bold and sharp,” she says.

“So right now, I’m in the middle of this fascinating conversation between softness and strength, emotion and clarity, tradition and experimentation. As much as I still love my roots in Chengdu, I find a new part of myself unfolding every time I’m in Berlin.”