Illustrator Chen Zuer. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Though the exhibition lasted only 10 days due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 27-year-old, now back in China after having studied in France for about a decade, has been content to look back on this showcase event as a noticeable breakthrough in her career.

Chen is also making her mark in the motherland. On Nov 6, she joined 120 artists to present her work during a three-day group exhibition held at the Singularity Plan Festival in Guangzhou, Guangdong province. A visitor comments under her post on micro-blogging platform Sina Weibo: "Chen's illustration was impressive. Actually these artists were all very creative, and I benefited a lot from communicating with them."