Now Place is an art community and independent publisher based in San Francisco, championing female and emerging artists/creators from the Asian diaspora.
As a collective, we proudly feature small-batch, culturally rooted works—from crafted artworks to artisanal goods—blending tradition, innovation, and personal expression. Our zines and books, often multilingual, reflect our shared identities in an interconnected world.
The series is trying to capture the dynamism of Lunar New Year, showcasing the unique practices, symbols, and ceremonies that distinguish each cultural heritage.
LUNAR NEW YEAR TRADITIONS
Art prints
新年习俗插画
Three things of Love 愛三則
Love is fluid—unbound by language, form, or definition. In this series of three zines, Akaa explore love’s shifting nature through text, material, and composition. Each zine approaches love differently: as a whispered intimacy, a question without an answer, a fleeting emotion that lingers beyond words.
Blurring the lines between English and Chinese, text and image, material and meaning, these works embody love’s contradictions—its clarity and ambiguity, its tenderness and uncertainty. Through layered paper, dissolving words, and the interplay of space and touch, these zines invite the reader to not just read, but to feel love in its many forms.
She exists admits thousands pain她存在於萬千痛苦之中
She exists amidst thousands of pain is a illustration/poem zine, created by Akaa.
This zine is a self, intimate reflection of resilience, emotions, and the quiet strength within moments of struggles. Akaa wrote and illustrated 7 poems to explore a fragmented story of love, marriage, and being women.
She exists amidst thousands of pain is a bilingual and serial artist's zine inspired by and devoted to women's experience worldly yet personally everyday life of being women.
self-published, 28 pages, 5 x 8 inch
"Hey, please listen to me" Earring
This Earring Zine was designed and produced by Akaa as an exploration of the fluidity of the book format.
It features a love poem, whispering love alongside your ear, with pages intentionally designed in length to reflect the meaning of the content.
self-published, 28 pages, 5 x 8 inch
What is love 愛是什麼
This "Love letter" Zine by Akaa explores the fluidity of language—not only in translation and the way words shift between English and Chinese, but also in the materiality of the book itself. Through layered paper, blurred text, and shifting forms, the work dissolves the boundaries between meaning and medium.
Much like love, language is never fixed. It transcends direct translation, existing in the spaces between words, between what is seen and what is felt. This zine reflects that transient nature, allowing words to merge, fade, and transform—echoing how love moves beyond language, beyond definition, and into something fluid and ineffable.
self-published, 30 pages, 5 x 8 inch
Pins and toys
CHILDHOOD MEMORIAL SERIES
童年回憶零食系列
WHITE RABBIT PLUSHIE
大白兔奶糖抱枕
The childhood memorial series serves as a nostalgic exploration of Asian childhood memories. Drawing from personal experiences of growing up in Asia, the artist sought to capture the essence of a bygone era filled with the simple joys and flavors that shaped artist's formative years.
Kau Kong Chopper
Cultural thing
九江刀
Kau Kong Chopper can be found in every butcher shop in Hong Kong. Its weight distrubition is designed specifically for chopping chicken bones.
These chopper mirrors are made of acrylic. Sharp in the look not in the blade.
Zine, Art pints
Chen print
‘i love you’, Nov 2024
Risograph printed at Tiny Splendor
Artist: Ruby Chen
‘twenty something’, Jul 2024
Hand-bound zine risograph printed at Tiny Splendor
A collection of poetry and photography from my twenty-sixth year documenting feelings of joy, confusion, pain, and cultural questioning throughout the year - a progression of growing older and letting go.
‘Third Culture Arts Club’, Oct 2024
11” x 17” poster risograph printed at Tiny Splendor
Artist: Ruby Chen
‘oranges’ 8.5x11” Illustrative Riso, Mar 2022
Personal collection posters printed at CCA
Artist: Ruby Chen
‘Third Culture Arts Club’, Oct 2024
11” x 17” poster risograph printed at Tiny Splendor
Artist: Ruby Chen
Cultural thing
Computationally designed and 3D printed homes for your airplants.
Artist: Cheng
Airplanter
空氣海螺
Art pints, stickers, magnets
Bilingual Delights
双语趣伙伴
Rooted in the artist's identity as Chinese and inspired by the cultural melting pot of San Francisco, each illustration in the series depicts a charming scene where cute animals take on the forms of beloved foods, accompanied by bilingual puns that cleverly connect Mandarin and English words. From a bagel-shaped dog (贝狗) to a mochi-inspired cat (猫气), the artworks invite viewers to delight in the playful interplay between language and imagery.
I AM CAT series
我是貓
I AM CAT Series is a bilingual collection of zines created in collaboration between Now Place and artist Akaa, inspired by solitary walks through neighborhoods in cities like Hong Kong. This series explores themes of identity, tradition, and duality through the lens of feline perspectives through storytelling and visual art, offering a whimsical yet poignant look at the intersection of the modern and traditional.
AT SHOP IN ASIA 铺头猫在香港
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The story invites you into the enchanting world of three cats residing in a traditional Chinese medicine shop in Hong Kong, that is about to close.
One of the central themes of this zine is the exploration of identity in the intersection between the modern world and tradition. While the Chinese medicine store is going away, three cats navigate their roles within the shop and interact with the diverse array of customers.
Artist: Akaa, Published by Now place
Cat poem things 小猫一些诗集
Daily cat literature 小猫二三事
"I AM CAT IN BETWEEN WORLDS" is a collection of stories created by Akaa that bring the world of 小貓二三事 (Little Cat Literature) to life. Through the eyes of our curious and endearing feline protagonists, the stories delve into the intricacies of dual identity—navigating the space between being human and cat, being Asian and residing in the Western world.
Self published, 5x8 inches, 28 pages
"I AM CAT IN BETWEEN WORLDS" is a collection of stories created by Akaa that bring the world of 小貓文學 (Little Cat Literature) to life. Through the eyes of our curious and endearing feline protagonists, the stories delve into the intricacies of dual identity—navigating the space between being human and cat, being Asian and residing in the Western world.
Artist: Akaa, Published by Now place
Ceramic Earrings
The artist's work transforms everyday objects into pieces of wearable art. Based in the SF Bay Area and having grown up in China, she draws inspiration from the beauty of nature and the intricate patterns found in Asian daily objects. Her unique designs blend cultural heritage with the elegance of the natural world.
From the elegant, blue-and-white patterns reminiscent of classic Asian ceramics to the delicate dumpling-inspired dangles, the artist hopes to bring joy and a touch of asian culture to those who wear her pieces, making them feel connected to the natural world and the beauty that lies within it.
Nature's Whispers: Asian Elegance
自然之音：亚洲雅韵
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Art prints
The artist has always passionate about experimenting with both traditional and digital media in storytelling. Her common forms of expression include gouache and watercolor paintings, 2D animation, and risograph zines. The artworks are inspired by both the artist's Chinese heritage and personal memories that recall many moving-ons and farewells. In the work, the use of bright colors, rendition of peaceful nature, and choreography of mini-creatures bring together a fairytale that is somewhat sweet yet melancholic at the same time.
Farewell Fantasies: Memories in Color
Art prints
The artist has always been captivated by the interplay of color and form. Her paintings encompass a mesmerizing fusion of contemporary art with traditional Asian motifs, creating a unique dialogue between East and West. The paintings are a reflection of her journey, blending the rich heritage of her Chinese upbringing with the modern influences of her life in the United States.
Mythical Harmony
Original Stories and merch.
Mock stained glass window of Buu & Her friends(2021) Transparent acrylic puzzle inspired by stained glass church windows.
The Buu's world was emerged from a poignant metaphor for the oppressive beauty standards imposed by patriarchal asian society, bore the marks of self-inflicted disfigurement in a futile quest for acceptance -- Big eye, A really big eye, or many of them.
BUU'S WORLD
布布和她的小夥伴
Yan Book 鼴書
We are proud to showcase Yan Book, a champion of small-scale, independent publishing that embraces artistic freedom beyond mainstream constraints. Through collaborations with artists, Yan Book creates experimental publications that explore visual storytelling, materiality, and immersive reading experiences.
A Personal Bible: Han Yong’s Painted Scripture
一个的圣经
Han Yong boldly paints over the Bible, not as an act of defacement but as a deeply personal reinterpretation—his own visual scripture.
Artist: Han Yong
Design: Yida
Moonnight party
Xiangyata’s art book is a delicate collection of pencil-drawn narratives, blending quiet nostalgia with dreamlike introspection. Each intricately rendered scene—whether intimate gatherings under power lines or luminous encounters with fire—unfolds with cinematic softness, inviting viewers into a world both distant and deeply personal.
Artist: Xiangyata, Published by Yan shu
Zhen 鴆 - A photography book
"鹤 (Zhen)" is a photography book that captures a surreal, mythical, and dreamlike quality. Directed by Lin Shu, the book presents haunting and atmospheric landscapes from locations such as Huangshan, Wudangshan, Zhangjiajie, and more. Through its delicate balance of stillness and motion, the book presents an ethereal narrative, where the timeless essence of nature meets the modern urban landscape.
Artist: Lin Shu, Published by Yan shu
51 Tan is a commissioned record of the Shanghai street vendors that Cao Feile took notice of and made observation of from 2016 to 2023. Initially published as a series of social media posts on the 11 Shanghai Biennale's WeChat platform in the form of 连环画 (Chinese pulp comics), the record outlines a collection of itinerant peddlers she took efforts to approach, get close to and interact with. The details are vivid, subtle, and warmly human.
Artist: Cao Feile, Published by 51 persona project
te magazine
We proudly feature bilingual publication te magazine. Each issue takes inspiration from the current moment, generates a theme best encapsulating the thinking sparked by that moment, and invites researchers and creators from different fields to share their work around it.
te issue 3: Mirroring 镜中寻步
te issue 3: Mirroring 镜中寻步 explores themes of self-discovery, healing, and confronting personal and collective plights. Through essays, interviews, and collaborations, contributors delve into topics like colonial legacies, trauma, cultural identity, and resilience. The issue emphasizes personal narratives, collaboration, and the interplay between individual and collective healing. It invites readers to explore how self-understanding and creative expression can transform challenges into growth.
Minnan Exit 不辞而别
Since 2015, Wen-You Cai has photographed family funerals in Quanzhou, Fujian, exploring grief, Minnan rituals, and her fear of death. Minnan Exit, designed by RELATED DEPARTMENT, blends personal photos with cultural insights, reflecting her journey to understand and reconcile mortality.
