Tianying Yang

I create narrative-driven work that prioritizes elements over single images. I’m interested in experiences that unfold gradually, allowing viewers to experience the work over time.

My subject matter explores psychological instability—shifts in identity or the blurring of the boundary between reality and fiction. These themes aren’t themes presented directly; instead, they emerge through details and structure.

In terms of form, I combine illustration with elements such as archives, interfaces, or simple interactive systems, creating work that feels more like a space to be navigated than something to be seen all at once.

My process typically begins intuitively, becoming clearer and more structured through ongoing refinement.

What I Don’t Remember

A man with Alzheimer’s begins to lose his memory. Subtle changes in others’ behaviour make him uneasy, as if something is being hidden from him. Fragmented memories surface—scenes of different nights and unexplained deaths. As these pieces connect, a horrifying realization emerges: he may be responsible. With his memory deteriorating, he faces a final dilemma—confess before everything is forgotten, or let the truth vanish along with his mind.

The Northern Corridor Case Files

A detective narrative project presented through archival records. The story unfolds along a remote northern transit corridor connecting a series of isolated stations. Each numbered case documents an unusual incident—an employee found dead from hypothermia, a death inside a sealed room, or surveillance footage that cannot be explained. As files, logs, and scattered objects are gradually pieced together, subtle anomalies emerge again and again. These fragments seem to suggest that something far older and more difficult to comprehend may be quietly influencing these events.

Horror Pet Shop

A narrative project framed as a simulation-management game, centred on a family curse and the transformation between human and animal forms. The project includes character design, environment design, and interface visuals, building the overall experience through shop management, nighttime transactions, and event progression. As players manage pets and customers, they gradually notice anomalies and piece together the hidden rules of the world.

Hat

This illustration project is based on a fantasy mystery novel, centring on a pair of twins and a mysterious nanny.

Bamboo Shadows

A Chinese-inspired promotional illustration featuring a lone swordswoman moving through a bamboo forest. The piece combines dynamic perspective with flowing motion to emphasize both elegance and tension. Traditional elements such as costume, weapon, and setting are reinterpreted through a contemporary visual style, creating a balance between strength and grace while capturing a fleeting, cinematic moment.