About | Shoba.Art

Want to take a look through my glasses?

No, not my literal glasses - although you can if you’d like - but my metaphorical glasses: To see the world through my eyes? I’m Alpha Yu and I’m a Vancouver-based illustrator of graphic novels, background artist, and concept artist. I write and draw stories about the people living in Vancouver - the children of immigrants, the struggling artists, the people who wish the grey city had a little more colour. For a while now, I've also been selling art at festivals, markets, and even malls under the alias of Shoba. I seek to create stories and illustrations that unite us and show the beauty of the places we inhabit, because everyone deserves to feel good about the space that they live in! Past clients include Simon Fraser University, so your project is in trustworthy hands! I believe that under every roof in Vancouver is someone with a story to tell, and I'd love to tell yours!

Contact

What is SHOBA?（ショバ）

In a paradoxical move for somebody who publicly declares his real name, SHOBA is my pen name and the name of the small business that sells my artwork. Defined by a logo consisting of a set of three rings surrounding an intricate and geometric pattern of spikes, SHOBA asserts a sharp but soft tone.

Always the contrarian, unlike every other aspect of my meaning-laden work, the word SHOBA was chosen as the name of the brand for its absolute lack of any meaning whatsoever. (Although even that is a contrarian statement, for SHOBA is simply the word basho (場所) backwards, which is Japanese for place - the depiction of which is a core pillar in my visual style) In other words, it is an empty vessel for me to pour meaning into.

SHOBA's works are dedicated to exploring life as a nerdy second generation Asian immigrant in all of its aspects and what it means to exist in transitory spaces - or perhaps that's just pretext for drawing crazy backgrounds and fun characters. You decide.

Shop SHOBA