Art on the Line for AWA
- ILLUSTRATOR Tanya Bennett aka “Pirate” by RACHEL BOURKE
Tanya Bennett, better known as Pirate to those in the know, is a Hong Kong-based artist you might have seen at some of the city’s most luxurious fashion and lifestyle events including those at Christian Louboutin, Cartier, and Lane Crawford.
Her illustrations capture the faces and silhouettes of some of the city’s most fabulous and she will be at Art on the Line 2018 to capture our friends and guests! Hong Kong Home We were curious to hear about how she ended up calling Hong Kong “home” after arriving here over 10 years ago and what inspires her.
Although Tanya was born and raised in England, she considers Hong Kong home and has always plotted to bring herself to Asia, so much so that within a month of graduating, she was China-bound for her first job in design. Hong Kong has provided the right environment for Tanya to launch herself as an artist, although the hurdles she faced were partly her own doing; acknowledging her talent and legitima-cy as an artist took some time.
However, she says she has an incredible community of women who lift her up and act as sounding boards, providing her with the critical support and necessary mentoring to keep her pushing forward as she feels “they inherently know what we (women) are up against.” Inspiration Inspired by travelling (she admits to finally fulfilling her summer dream of spending it away from Hong Kong’s sticky climes this year) and the meditative nature of racing up and around the hills near and far. Tanya’s competitive athleticism appears to be in stark contrast to her creative artistry, but one seems to feed the other and provides for much needed inspiration.
Her recent trail running adventures have taken her to a race in Chiang Mai, Thailand with her all-women team called Hot on the Heels (or HOTH for short). Motivation When asked if this is important, Tanya says that there is something women fundamentally understand about supporting each other. They share frustrations. They empathize and often “say the right things at the right time, and are direct in the right way.”
Her Hong Kong “tribe” as she puts it has also given her a new audience and collaborative: their children! “I’m quite good with kids - maybe because I’m really just a big kid myself.” Her connection to them is easy and she says they feed her creatively through play. From an Alaskan zoo made from toilet rolls to a pirate’s booty with crystal gems, there is never a shortage of imagination “because the little ones are open to the possibilities - always asking “why?””
What she’s ever mindful of is how she speaks with them, as it’s important for her “to help raise them up to be feminists.”
WE ARE SO EXCITED for you and your friends to walk away with a personal illustration from PIRATE AT ART ON THE LINE!