National Geographic Society Newsroom

Dreams of the World: Animation Artist from Taipei (Taiwan)

This post is the latest in Kike Calvo’s series Dreams of the World, which profiles interesting people we meet during our travels. “My dream is to open my own studio in Beijing. A gallery space where visitors can get to see my Ball-Jointed Dolls (BJD dolls) while I work in the back, ” says Meng Chia...

Meng Chia Chung, 26 from Taipei, Taiwan (center) with friend Ai Tsunematsu, 28 left from Fukushima, Japan (left) and sister, Meng Ling Chung,16 from Taipei, Taiwan (right). Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto during the Gion Festival. Photograph © KIKE CALVO

This post is the latest in Kike Calvo’s series Dreams of the World, which profiles interesting people we meet during our travels.

“My dream is to open my own studio in Beijing. A gallery space where visitors can get to see my Ball-Jointed Dolls (BJD dolls) while I work in the back, ” says Meng Chia Chung, 26, also known by her English name, Emily Chung. An animation masters student at the University of Southern California, USC, Chung was born in Taipei (Taiwan). Making the most out of her last summer before starting to work, Chung, along with her sister Meng Ling Chung and her best friend Ai Tsunematsu, decided to dress up in traditional Japanese attire and visit Kyoto (Japan) to participate in Gion Matsuri, an ancient and one of the most popular festivals in Japan. Chung is inspired by BJD Doll artists Popovy Sis and Marina Bychkova, yet “The Kiss” by the Austrian symbolist painter Gustav Klimt is still her all time favorite piece of art.

Follow Kike Calvo on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

About National Geographic Society

The National Geographic Society is a global nonprofit organization that uses the power of science, exploration, education and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world. Since 1888, National Geographic has pushed the boundaries of exploration, investing in bold people and transformative ideas, providing more than 14,000 grants for work across all seven continents, reaching 3 million students each year through education offerings, and engaging audiences around the globe through signature experiences, stories and content. To learn more, visit www.nationalgeographic.org or follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Meet the Author

Author Photo Kike Calvo
Award-winning photographer, journalist, and author Kike Calvo (pronounced key-keh) specializes in culture and environment. He has been on assignment in more than 90 countries, working on stories ranging from belugas in the Arctic to traditional Hmong costumes in Laos. Kike is pioneering in using small unmanned aerial systems to produce aerial photography as art, and as a tool for research and conservation. He is also known for his iconic photographic project, World of Dances, on the intersection of dance, nature, and architecture. His work has been published in National Geographic, New York Times, Time, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, New York Magazine, Rolling Stone, and Vanity Fair, among others. Kike teaches photography workshops and has been a guest lecturer at leading institutions like the School of Visual Arts and Yale University. He is a regular contributor to National Geographic blog Voices. He has authored nine books, including Drones for Conservation; So You Want to Create Maps Using Drones?; Staten Island: A Visual Journey to the Lighthouse at the End of the World; and Habitats, with forewords by David Doubilet and Jean-Michel Cousteau. Kike’s images have been exhibited around the world, and are represented by the National Geographic Image Collection. Kike was born in Spain and is based in New York. When he is not on assignment, he is making gazpacho following his grandmother’s Andalusian recipe. You can travel to Colombia with Kike: www.colombiaphotoexpeditions.com