Known by her moniker Hu is Hungry, illustrator Dingding Hu caters to a hungry audience. Her food illustrations are bright and playful, featuring both American and Chinese specialties. Through them, Hu also raises questions about the connection between culture and identity, and the complicated ways in which food shapes our environment.
“My hometown specializes in a full range of super delicious spicy food, which you can access downstairs from your apartment to a fine dining level restaurant,” said the China-born, New-York based illustrator in an interview with the Pearl River Mart Blog. On the other hand, she says that “New York is amazing how it has cuisine from all over the world on a very authentic level, and some of the fine dining restaurants in New York are fantastic.”
“Growing up in Sichuan, I developed a deep love for spicy food, as well as an attitude toward life that cherishes little ‘happinesses,’” she added. “I also received my first art education there, which had a major influence on my later pursuits.” She would later develop this initial passion towards art into a full-time job, having moved to the U.S. for graduate school at 2013.
Nowadays, you can find her illustrations printed across anything from paper goodies to enamel pins. These products can be found on her Etsy shop, Hu is Hungry.
