What if we could be off work in 4 seasons…
Off Work is an art and music project initiated by Handowin in collaboration with independent musician Rhythmix_shun. The Off Work concept was created in 2021. At the time, my music partner Shun had produced a collection of untitled city pop tracks. Since international travel was impossible during the pandemic, we wanted to create something lighthearted and escapist.
Off Work in Four Seasons
This is the third series under the "Off Work" music & illustration project. Through four cities in four different countries - Rome (Italy), Changsha (China), Boston (USA), and Reykjavik(Iceland)-the series captures each city in its most iconic season: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. These illustrations convey the signature sense of ease, comfort, and relaxation at the heart of the Off Work theme, offering a moment of healing and calm to busy urban dwellers.
Beyond the illustrations, the project also expands into an EP of the same name, a zine, and animation, bringing the story to life across music, print, and motion.
ILLUSTRATION
Spring
Location: Villa Borghese, Roma, Italy
In April 2026, I spent a slow spring afternoon at Villa Borghese, wandering under the trees with nowhere to rush to—the perfect Off Work moment in Rome. I especially loved those iconic umbrella pines that somehow looked like giant broccoli—the perfect Off Work moment in Rome.
Off Work in Bookstores (Spring)
The Open Door Bookshop in Rome is a charming independent secondhand bookstore filled with books in different languages and the quiet, slightly nostalgic atmosphere I love. When I created this illustration, I had never actually visited the shop—so it felt almost magical that when I finally went there, I happened to capture a scene almost exactly like the one I had imagined and drawn. A little coincidence between illustration and real life.
Summer
Location: An Old Alley, Changsha, China
A glimpse into everyday life in one of Changsha’s old residential neighborhoods, where narrow alleys are filled with small shops, street food, and traces of local life. In the illustration, an elderly vendor sells Changsha’s iconic stinky tofu, while the classic woven rattan chairs—once a familiar sight in ordinary local homes—add a relaxed, nostalgic touch to the scene.
Off Work in Bookstores (Summer)
P Stop is an independent art space and shop in Changsha, bringing together zines, art books, prints, and creative goods while supporting local and independent artists.
From July to September 2026, I held a small solo exhibition of Off Work in 4 Seasons at P Stop in Changsha. It was lovely to bring the project into a physical space and share its four seasonal stories with local audiences.
Autumn
Location: Boston, US
The scene brings together some of Boston’s most charming details—from secondhand bookstores and maple and plane trees in the parks to the city’s iconic architecture- with a cute little squirrel enjoying a pine cone in the foreground, capturing the cozy and nostalgic atmosphere of autumn in Boston.
Off Work in Bookstores (Autumn)
Beacon Hill Books & Cafe is a highly photogenic independent bookstore located in a historic 1840s townhouse in Boston, designed to feel like a warm, multi-story private library.
Winter
Location: Flateyri, Iceland
The illustration brings together some of Flateyri’s most distinctive elements—from its colorful architecture and magical northern lights to the charming heart-shaped traffic light—brought together with a Nordic-inspired color palette to capture the quiet, dreamy atmosphere of winter in Iceland.
Founded in 1914, The Old Bookstore in Flateyri, this historic bookstore in Flateyri is a fourth-generation, family-run space that preserves Iceland’s literary heritage in the heart of the Westfjords.
ANIMATION
This frame-by-frame animation flows horizontally from spring to winter, taking the audience on a continuous journey through the four seasons. At the heart of the story, a couple dances their way through each changing landscape, moving with joy, freedom, and a sense of ease. Blending music, illustration, and motion, the animation brings the artistic spirit of Off Work to life—celebrating its core idea of slowing down, enjoying the moment, and simply keeping calm and chilling through the seasons.
ZINE
Housed in a nostalgic 1990s-inspired CD case, the publication opens into a double-zine format inspired by a pair of CDs, creating an immersive reading and listening experience. The accordion fold presents a tailor-made city pop soundtrack by musician DJ Shun, accessible through QR codes, while a companion booklet transforms four cities into a visual essay weaving together music, bookstores, moods, and local observations. Read more.
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