In Whispers of the Seasons, Lin Wei Yu transforms Taiwan’s 24 solar terms into a poetic, immersive visual experience—one that blends ecological observation, traditional symbolism, and intuitive design into a communication work of rare depth and sensitivity. Awarded the Platinum Prize and Best Illustration at the 2025 Summer Season of the World Front Design Award, the series invites viewers to not simply see the passage of time, but to feel it through rhythm, texture, and atmosphere.
Each illustrated panel draws from Taiwan’s native species, folklore, and seasonal color palettes, carefully researched and subtly reimagined through Lin’s layered analog–digital technique. By using pencil, watercolor, scanned textures, and collage—then assembling them digitally—Lin preserves the tactile soul of handmade work while achieving refined visual harmony across all 24 scenes.
Far more than a calendar, Whispers of the Seasons is a cultural timekeeper. Through gentle visual cues, it evokes the memory of seasonal rituals, the weight of tradition, and the way climate and biology shape daily life. From the crisp coolness of early spring to the heavy bloom of midsummer, every composition carries both scientific intent and emotional tone.
In a world increasingly disconnected from nature’s rhythm, Lin Wei Yu’s work is a quiet reminder: time is not just measured—it is felt. And the seasons, if we listen closely, are still whispering.
Full Interview
1.How did you decide which animal, color palette, and visual atmosphere to associate with each solar term? Was it based on ecological accuracy, cultural symbolism, personal intuition—or a combination of all three?
My creative process was a thoughtful blend of ecological accuracy, cultural symbolism, and personal intuition. I researched native Taiwanese species associated with each solar term, ensuring that the foundation of my work was scientifically sound. Cultural references guided my refinements, allowing me to select species that hold symbolic significance in Taiwanese folklore or are traditionally linked to the colors of each season. Additionally, my personal intuition influenced the visual mood as I translated the sensory experiences of each season into textures, tones, and spatial compositions.
2.The cultural depth in this work is quietly powerful. What role does your heritage, or local cultural knowledge, play in shaping your visual language?
Taiwan’s solar terms hold profound cultural significance for me, influencing both the narrative content and tactile aesthetics of the series. My work incorporates traditional motifs through layered materials, including scanned paper textures. Although the final compositions are digitally assembled, I intentionally preserve visible brushwork and the rawness of physical media to evoke an authentic cultural connection.
3.What were the most challenging aspects of this series—from research, to conceptualization, to execution?
Balancing analog techniques with digital processes presented a significant challenge. The expressive methods of pencil sketching, watercolor, splattering, and smudging risked overwhelming the compositions. Seamlessly integrating these elements into a digital format while maintaining coherence and a natural flow required meticulous control. Ensuring consistency across all 24 solar terms proved to be a complex design task.
4.What would you like viewers—especially those unfamiliar with Taiwan’s solar terms—to feel or understand when they experience your work?
I encourage viewers to immerse themselves in the lived experiences of the seasons through layered brushwork, tactile paper textures, and atmospheric color palettes. I invite the audience to engage emotionally and intuitively with Taiwan’s ever-changing landscape, perceiving the passage of time not merely as numbers on a calendar, but as moments experienced through the rhythms of nature.
5.Have any institutions, mentors, or communities supported you throughout this journey? Are there people or organizations you’d like to thank?
This project greatly benefited from the guidance of the Taiwan’s Ministry of Agriculture, which provided valuable insights into various species. My mentor, Lin Pang-Soong, encouraged me to integrate traditional techniques, such as pencil, watercolor, and collage, with digital processes, which helped me refine my aesthetic choices.
