Wei Jie claudiamente@hotmail.com WHEN Gilles Francescano first visited Shenzhen in 2018, he was struck by the city’s futuristic architecture, describing it as a science fiction-inspired metropolis. “My love for science fiction made me think that if I had discovered Shenzhen earlier, I would have definitely come to live in Shenzhen,” the renowned French illustrator said during an exclusive interview with Shenzhen Daily before attending the inaugural ceremony of the Chinese/French Artists Exchange Program Season III in Shekou on Saturday. Francescano’s passion for science fiction and the dynamic relationship between text and visuals has been a driving force in his career as an illustrator, especially within the realm of fantasy and sci-fi. Although Francescano uses digital tools like tablets and photo-editing software for his illustrations, he considers the traditional pencil and paper as his “eternal technology.” He emphasized the importance of abstracting from the text to capture the essence of a science fiction image and to convey the feelings inspired by the narrative. Through his involvement with the “Second Chance School” project, Francescano encouraged students to create artwork mirroring their identities and dreams. This initiative aimed to provide insight into the students’ inner worlds through their artistic expressions, showcasing the power of art in introspection and self-revelation. | 