Illustrations by Tenzin Tsémé
The illustrations by Tenzin Tsémé explore imaginary places, detailed architectures and compositions where line, black and white, and colour interact with one another.
Some works take the form of bustling towns and villages, built house after house. Others concentrate an entire universe into a square format or move away from architecture to leave more room for shapes, curves and graphic rhythm.
Three collections now allow you to enter this universe: Towns and villages, Square formats and Abstractions.
Imaginary towns and villages
Architectures inspired by here and elsewhere meet to form cities that exist on no map. Houses, alleyways, bridges, staircases and improbable structures gradually come together as the drawing progresses.
Created mainly with a fine-liner pen, in black and white or in colour, these illustrations invite the gaze to get lost in the details and to imagine what might be hiding behind each door.
Square formats
A village, a few houses, a unique architecture: the square formats concentrate a small world within a more intimate space.
Inspired by different regions of the world or entirely imaginary, these compositions play with line, white space and colour. Each drawing possesses its own atmosphere and geography.
Abstractions
Here, the architecture allows more room for expression. Curves, spirals, lines, repetitions and graphic shapes develop freely until they construct their own equilibrium.
Another facet of Tenzin Tsémé's universe, freer and more instinctive, but still guided by line, rhythm and composition.
Affiches illustrées
Une illustration, un mot ou une courte phrase : les affiches illustrées prolongent le dessin par une invitation à rêver, voyager ou regarder le monde autrement.
Villes imaginaires, architectures et compositions graphiques deviennent des tirages d’art à exposer seuls ou à réunir en série.
From the first stroke to the finished artwork
An illustration rarely begins with a fully defined image. It often starts with an idea, an architectural detail, a travel memory or simply a shape that suggests another.
The drawing is then built up progressively. The initial pencil lines set a direction, followed by work with a fine-liner pen. Houses, façades, windows, stones, staircases and passageways are gradually appearing, until it forms a place that has its own geography.
Some works remain in black and white, leaving complete freedom for line and detail. For others, colour is introduced in touches or becomes a more prominent component of the composition.
This way of working deliberately leaves room for the unexpected. A city can thus evolve very far from the idea that gave birth to it: it is also within this freedom that Tenzin Tsémé's universe is constructed.
Discover Tenzin Tsémé’s available works
Some original illustrations featured in the collections are available for purchase. Every original piece is unique, handcrafted and signed by Tenzin Tsémé.
A selection of works is also available as fine art prints, offering high-quality reproductions of selected illustrations.
Would you like an artwork inspired by a place that means something special to you??
Tenzin Tsémé also makes custom illustrations from photographs.