The whispers of bygone time – Sophie Ji

The whispers of bygone time explores memory and dreams through poetic illustrations that invite viewers into an imagined forest of forgotten emotions and quiet self-reflection.

During the process of creating, I often experience periods of uncertainty and creative lows, which lead me to think, imagine, and sometimes enter strange and fantastical dreams. Within these dreams, I gradually discover images that resonate with me, and these images have become the starting point for this series.

The whispers of bygone time explores my journey of searching for direction in life. The white dog that appears throughout the works represents my inner self, while the young girl represents my outward self. I hope that these two versions of myself can throughout the journey of life, discover something they both long for and continue moving forward with determination. There are times when they may become lost and find themselves separated, but eventually, they will always meet again. I chose to incorporate gold leaf into these works because I wanted these memories to take on a golden, luminous quality. At the same time, this exhibition has given me an opportunity to experiment with new materials and ways of making. For me, creating something new is itself an essential part of the journey.

The whispers of bygone time I is rooted primarily in inner imagination and dreams, transforming these imagined fragments into visual works. In contrast, The whispers of bygone time II records my experience of actually travelling to Scotland, a country I had never visited before, yet one filled with a sense of fantasy and wonder. After exploring its landscapes, landmarks, and architecture, I combined these firsthand experiences with my own imagination of Scotland to develop a new body of work.

Sophia Ji’s practice is rooted in illustration, but she approaches each image as a space for quiet reflection rather than explanation. Her visual language combines delicate linework with rich textures and symbolic imagery, creating scenes that feel both intimate and mysterious. Animals, forests, and recurring motifs become emotional metaphors rather than literal subjects.

Sophia Ji is an illustrator active in the international arts and cultural field. Her works have been exhibited in Switzerland, the UK, South Korea, Italy, and Taiwan. She holds a Master’s degree from Arts University Bournemouth in the United Kingdom, as well as a Bachelor’s degree from National Kaohsiung Normal University in Taiwan. Her practice has long engaged with interdisciplinary approaches to illustration, narrative, and visual culture.

In recent years, Sophia has actively collaborated with public cultural institutions and participated in major exhibitions, including Hello, Big Ben! at the Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts for Children in 2026, Draw Your Forest Within! at Pier-2 Art Center in 2025, and Wandering Words, Free Spirits: A Travel Literature Exhibition at the National Museum of Taiwan Literature in 2026.

In the field of publishing, she contributed illustrations to Tongku Saveq by Neqou Socluqman, a work that was later awarded the Golden Tripod Award. In terms of international recognition, she received a Bronze Cube at the 105th ADC Annual Awards in the United States in 2026 and was longlisted for the World Illustration Awards in the United Kingdom.

Sophia has also actively participated in international illustration exchanges, with support from the Kaohsiung City Government to attend Design Festa Vol. 63 in Tokyo in 2026 and the Busan Illustration Fair V.5 in 2024. Over the years, she has continued collaborating with cultural platforms and brands including Eslite, CommonWealth Education Media and Publishing, and Vogue Taiwan, developing an interdisciplinary practice across illustration, visual culture, and mixed media.