Chen Hung-Yao (1964–2015) showed early talent in drawing and storytelling. He started his career at 17, working in comics and illustration. He also contributed to storyboarding for animation and designed props for video games and theater. Often seeing himself as someone from the future, Chen possessed extraordinary insights into time and space. He had a passion for sci-fi themes and often depicted martial arts and historical stories, partly because his looks resembled ancient Chinese figures. Known for his delicate and versatile art style, he mastered the dynamic pacing of Japanese manga and the literary character of European comics.

In 2025, to mark the tenth anniversary of Chen’s passing, the Taiwan Comic Base hosted his first solo exhibition, titled Beyond Limits – The Art of Chen Hung-Yao, in August, to celebrate the artist’s creative spirit. Starting December 5, the exhibition is moved to the east-side area of the National Comics Museum and retitled as Timeless．Limitless．Chen Hung-Yao, emphasizing the perspective of “enthusiasts/fans.” From the selection of works to the overall design, the exhibition highlights the artist’s targeted-market approach and the reciprocal forces created by the interaction between the artist and the “enthusiasts/fans.”

Chen’s published works include Magic BMX, Ouch! Big West, The Legend of Yi-Tao, Lovely Animals, Time Trick, the novel titled World Cup China in 1026, various comic scripts, and more.

Chen Hung-Yao

Wife and agent of comic artist Chen Hung-Yao, and curator of Timeless．Limitless．Chen Hung-Yao.

Cheng Yung-Chung

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The Left Wing — Chen Hung-Yao: Biography

The Central Panel — Chen Hung-Yao: Creative Journey

The Right Wing  — Chen HungYao: Creative Journey

1967-1979

1981 - 1987

1989 - 1992

1992 - 2013

Business cards from the 1990 San Diego Comic-Con.

Doodies created with spending times with the children.

Pen and brush holders on the work desk.

Pen tips worn out from drawing serialized comics.

Ouch! Big West: An Infinite Universe Inside a Partitioned Room

Cover for the “Ancient Version” of The Legend of Yi-Dow

Cover for the “Time Travel Version” of The Legend of Yi-Dow

The Legend of Yi-Dow: Opening

The Legend of Yi-Dow:To Be Continued

Red Fox: A Mysterious Legend of the Martial World

Red Fox : Ambush on a Rainy Night

Red Fox : Flow of Light and Shadow

Xuan-Yuan Sword 2

Xuan-Yuan Sword: Dance of the Maple Leaves

The Holy War of Xuan-Yuan

Oriental Legend

Heaven’s Dawn

Demon’s Course

Game floppy disk, game manual and magazine

Legend of the Galactic Heroes, Volume 01: Dawn – Part 1

Legend of the Galactic Heroes, Volume 02: Dawn – Part 2

Legend of the Galactic Heroes, Volume 05:  Endurance

Legend of the Galactic Heroes, Volume 07:  Stratagem – Part 1

Legend of the Galactic Heroes, Volume 20: Sunset – Part 2

Discovery Channel – The Unknown Taiwan Series

Jinguashi – The Legend of Gold Revisited

Penghu – The Mysterious Valley City Under the Sea

Alishan – Legend of the Woodland Brave Warriors

Huadong – Unveil the Secret of Kamikaze’s Special Training

Documentary Short Film Featuring Chen Hung-Yao: The Magic of a Comics Artist

Reincarnation

Bamboo Dragonfly

Dialogue

Freeze

Flying Man

Concept Art for Airman

Airman 3D Model

Short Film: The Flight of Airman

The Comic Language of Chen Hung-Yao

The Chronological Wall of Chen Hung-Yao

Portraits of Chen Hung-Yao

The Artifact Exhibit of Chen Hung-Yao

Ouch! Big West: An Infinite Universe Inside a Wooden Partitioned Room

The Legend of Yi-Dow: The Original Cover Art Collection

The Legend of Yi-Dow: A Classic Masterpiece That Challenges Limits

Video Game Posters: Revisiting the Glorious 1990s

Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Collective Memory of First-Generation Readers

Time Trick: Finding the Best Language of Expression for Stories

Airman: Launching an Unfinished Dream Through Time and Space

Enduring Classics Persist Through Enthusiastic Devotion

Cheng Yung-Chung, Curator

In 2025, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of comic artist Chen Hung-Yao’s passing (1964–2015), the exhibition Beyond Limits – The Art of Chen Hung-Yao was presented for the first time. This time, Timeless．Limitless．Chen Hung-Yao, presented at the east-side area of the National Taiwan Museum of Comics in Taichung, focuses on the perspective of “fans and enthusiasts” and demonstrates how enthusiasm and fans continue to revive his work, transcending time and space.

The exhibition space recreates the wood partitions from when the artist created his work, Ouch! Big West, allowing visitors to step back in time. The opening scenes of Chen’s representative work, The Legend of Yi-Tao, alongside its later manuscripts, are displayed, enabling fans to re-experience the shock and melancholy once felt by its devoted readers. The original color cover artworks are shown in two separate stages for the first time—a gesture of sincerity marking the artist’s debut at the National Comics Museum. Additionally, the much-requested Red Fox, a fan favorite, is also showcased in two phases, featuring rare original manuscripts.

The section “Posters of Video Games from the 1990s” captures Taiwan’s golden age of video games, evoking the youthful memories for players. Additionally, the cover of the traditional Chinese edition of Tanaka Yoshiki’s novel series, The Legend of the Galactic Heroes, remains a collective memory for first-generation readers.

The cover art for the Discovery Channel series, Unknown Taiwan, highlights Chen’s ability to communicate through craftsmanship. In his independently published short sci-fi work from 2011, Time Trick, each story reveals a unique style and has been affectionately dubbed by younger generations as “our black mirror.” The magical allure of time travel, which fascinates fans, is vividly realized by the “airman.”

A decade after Chen’s passing, the world has undergone tremendous change—from social media to artificial intelligence. Culture now spreads through “memes,” and comics were among the earliest forms of memetic creation that inspired dedicated fandoms. The phrase “enthusiastic devotion” in the exhibition title honors “fans and enthusiasts,” acknowledging that timeless works cannot exist in isolation—they endure because of those who love them. We appreciate each visitor for their passion; through your enthusiasm, the classics remain ever new and eduring.

Preparatory Office of NTMC

Chen Hung-Yao on YouTube

Chen Hung-Yao on Facebook

Chen Hung-Yao on Instagram

Chen Hung-Yao's Art Site

Timeless．Limitless．Chen Hung-Yao

2002
Toured Beijing and photographed with a cannon from the Qing dynasty.

2011
Interviewed by the public TV channel, Arte, along with comic artist Li Lung-Chieh, at the Angoulême International Comics Festival.
Photography: Chiu Tsu-Yin

2012
At Formosa Mambo Comic Art Exhibition at Kaohsiung’s Pier-2 Art Center, Chen Hung-Yao and daughter Chen I-Fan napped at a café.

2013
At the Brussels Comic Strip Festival, Chen Hung-Yao and France-based comic artist Lîm Lī-chhin （LIN Li-Chin） discussed signing and drawing for young fans.
Photos © visit.brussels / FÊTE DE LA BD 2013