My Story
Welcome to Kofuku Art Studio - a creative universe inspired by the vast and vibrant world of Asian culture. I’m Nini, the artist and illustrator. I’m so happy you’re here and I’m excited to share my work with you.
Illustration has always been a pastime of mine, a form of expression, a way of communicating my ideas and passions. And as you can see through my work, my passions include various aspects of Asian culture: Asian foods and snacks, anime, nostalgic childhood memorabilia, and yes, martial arts!
I started training Brazilian jiu-jitsu in 2018 and fell in love with the practice. It has taught me strength, perseverance, and appreciating the small wins. As I was training, the artist in me couldn’t help but dream up original designs for jiu-jitsu rash guards. I wanted to create designs that suited my aesthetic and had Asian flair.
From there, Kofuku Art Studio slowly began to form as a nebulous of an idea. I wanted a space to share the delicious and magical expanse of Asian culture and to show that Asian aesthetic is so much more than just common Chinese characters and yin yang signs.
As a collective, we survived the never-ending game of Jumanji known as 2020. It was year of harsh realities and a lot of introspection. For me, I was hit with the overwhelming sense that life is short—too short to lay dreams aside, too short to wait for a “better moment,” because in truth, that better moment may never come. Thus, Kofuku Art Studio was born into a world of unrest, but also into a world filled with hope and inspiration.
Kōfuku (幸福, こうふく) is a Japanese term that means happiness. It’s derived from my native Chinese name, Xinyi (欣怡), which translates to joy and happiness. This spirit, of joy and happiness, is at the very core of Kofuku Art Studio.
Kofuku Art Studio is here to bring little sparks of brightness, a splash of color to your life, a feeling of awe or the precious pang of nostalgia—small moments that became so important in 2020. Illustrating each piece has brought me so much happiness and I can only hope that you can find moments of joy through my art. Take a look around, I hope that you find something here that makes you smile.
Thank you so much for visiting my shop ♥️
