It’s truly a special moment when you come across a piece of art you can’t fully understand, but you can clearly feel the emotion within it.
That's what I realized when I discovered Allen Cheng's work. A criminally underrated artist on YouTube, Cheng makes work that spans multiple artforms, including beautifully detailed illustrations, handheld videography, atmospheric music, and poetic writing. But what he excels at is bringing all of these artforms together in an exceptionally cohesive way, creating a unique personal and emotional experience. And what can’t be understated is the fact that all of these different pieces—from the illustrations to the soundtracks to the editing and writing—are made by Allen Cheng. He has a clear direction in his mind, and it’s amazing that on his own, he’s able to use these different mediums so deliberately to achieve that goal.
When I first came across his video don’t have to be in what we make, I knew I had found something special. I was immediately wowed by the video’s style, by the physicality of the illustrations, yet how they seemed to transcend physical space. The emotion that this was able to create within me, solidified by the score and the written dialogue, was incredible. I didn’t know how to describe what I was watching, but I knew it was beautiful and important. And in fact, seeing this incredibly unique and visionary work still yet to get the recognition it deserved played a large role in Elicit being made in the first place.
There was so much more I wanted to learn about Allen Cheng and his work. Who he is, his intentions with his art, why he chose to combine these mediums, it was all a mystery to me. And so, it was my pleasure to sit down and share a conversation over text with the artist. Please enjoy our conversation about Allen Cheng’s self-taught journey into art, what he hopes people get out of his work, and his ambitious goals for the future.
It’s truly a special moment when you come across a piece of art you can’t fully understand, but you can clearly feel the emotion within it.
That's what I realized when I discovered Allen Cheng's work. A criminally underrated artist on YouTube, Cheng makes work that spans multiple artforms, including beautifully detailed illustrations, handheld videography, atmospheric music, and poetic writing. But what he excels at is bringing all of these artforms together in an exceptionally cohesive way, creating a unique personal and emotional experience. And what can’t be understated is the fact that all of these different pieces—from the illustrations to the soundtracks to the editing and writing—are made by Allen Cheng. He has a clear direction in his mind, and it’s amazing that on his own, he’s able to use these different mediums so deliberately to achieve that goal.
When I first came across his video don’t have to be in what we make, I knew I had found something special. I was immediately wowed by the video’s style, by the physicality of the illustrations, yet how they seemed to transcend physical space. The emotion that this was able to create within me, solidified by the score and the written dialogue, was incredible. I didn’t know how to describe what I was watching, but I knew it was beautiful and important. And in fact, seeing this incredibly unique and visionary work still yet to get the recognition it deserved played a large role in Elicit being made in the first place.
There was so much more I wanted to learn about Allen Cheng and his work. Who he is, his intentions with his art, why he chose to combine these mediums, it was all a mystery to me. And so, it was my pleasure to sit down and share a conversation over text with the artist. Please enjoy our conversation about Allen Cheng’s self-taught journey into art, what he hopes people get out of his work, and his ambitious goals for the future.
Elicit
Well to start, I just want to thank you for taking the time to speak with me, I really enjoy your work and I'm excited to learn more about it!
Elicit
Well to start, I just want to thank you for taking the time to speak with me, I really enjoy your work and I'm excited to learn more about it!
Allen
Thank you man, it’s an honour of mine to be able to talk about them too.
Allen
Thank you man, it’s an honour of mine to be able to talk about them too.
Elicit
So to start, could you introduce yourself a little and tell me how you got into making art?
Elicit
So to start, could you introduce yourself a little and tell me how you got into making art?
Allen
That’s quite a big question, but I’ll try to get to the essence of it I guess, haha. I had a troublesome childhood, and it was just my escape at the time. But as we know, escapism is, more often than not, very counterproductive. I can’t just sweep things under the rug by making art. And that’s when I realised that the very process of art making can be therapeutic and intrinsically helpful. It took me a long time to realise that, but I’m glad I eventually did, and after that I just kept moving forward. Hopefully that answered your question.
Allen
That’s quite a big question, but I’ll try to get to the essence of it I guess, haha. I had a troublesome childhood, and it was just my escape at the time. But as we know, escapism is, more often than not, very counterproductive. I can’t just sweep things under the rug by making art. And that’s when I realised that the very process of art making can be therapeutic and intrinsically helpful. It took me a long time to realise that, but I’m glad I eventually did, and after that I just kept moving forward. Hopefully that answered your question.
Elicit
Yes, it definitely did, and thank you for being so open about that.
Elicit
Yes, it definitely did, and thank you for being so open about that.
Allen
No problem, I’ll try to be as open as possible for this interview.
Allen
No problem, I’ll try to be as open as possible for this interview.
Elicit
And then, your videos use a lot of different mediums and artforms in them, from illustration to video recordings to music. What drew you to want to use all of these together in your videos?
Elicit
And then, your videos use a lot of different mediums and artforms in them, from illustration to video recordings to music. What drew you to want to use all of these together in your videos?
Allen
It’s definitely due to my hope to achieve some sort of harmony through all the media. I’m working on a feature film right now because I feel like it’s the ultimate art form that involves efforts from so many different media and dimensions. I just enjoy making different things and eventually organising them and making them come together.
I think it’s why you see so many videos of edits and montages on social media nowadays, it does require lots of orchestration to even just curate something like that—let alone creating it. So for me, it’s just very rewarding to do something like that. And it makes the whole thing, whatever it is that I’m focusing on, feel more complete as well.
Allen
It’s definitely due to my hope to achieve some sort of harmony through all the media. I’m working on a feature film right now because I feel like it’s the ultimate art form that involves efforts from so many different media and dimensions. I just enjoy making different things and eventually organising them and making them come together.
I think it’s why you see so many videos of edits and montages on social media nowadays, it does require lots of orchestration to even just curate something like that—let alone creating it. So for me, it’s just very rewarding to do something like that. And it makes the whole thing, whatever it is that I’m focusing on, feel more complete as well.
Allen Cheng’s illustrations, videography, writing, and music all come together in his works, as seen in his video goldfish memory lane. Courtesy of Allen Cheng.
Allen Cheng’s illustrations, videography, writing, and music all come together in his works, as seen in his video goldfish memory lane. Courtesy of Allen Cheng.
I learned them through pure experimentation. I just never had the interest to learn from anyone, though I had some guidance here and there. I mainly just figured everything out by myself.
I learned them through pure experimentation. I just never had the interest to learn from anyone, though I had some guidance here and there. I mainly just figured everything out by myself.
Elicit
I really like how you used the word "harmony," it really is a special thing to push for when using all of these mediums. And it's also very interesting that you seem to enjoy both creating the art, as well as putting everything together into one artwork. I'm curious, did you first begin making art primarily in one medium? Illustration or film, for example?
Elicit
I really like how you used the word "harmony," it really is a special thing to push for when using all of these mediums. And it's also very interesting that you seem to enjoy both creating the art, as well as putting everything together into one artwork. I'm curious, did you first begin making art primarily in one medium? Illustration or film, for example?
Allen
If we are talking about the VERY beginning, then all I had was some papers and a few pencils, so it was really just illustration because I was only like 8.
It was like that for years until I eventually got into video editing, and then music. Then, to have the nerves to tell stories that are personal to me.
So it eventually just all came together, even though I started by learning all the mediums that I’m using individually.
Allen
If we are talking about the VERY beginning, then all I had was some papers and a few pencils, so it was really just illustration because I was only like 8.
It was like that for years until I eventually got into video editing, and then music. Then, to have the nerves to tell stories that are personal to me.
So it eventually just all came together, even though I started by learning all the mediums that I’m using individually.
Elicit
That's really cool, how you were able to learn all of these mediums and have them build on each other to get to where you are now.
Elicit
That's really cool, how you were able to learn all of these mediums and have them build on each other to get to where you are now.
Allen
I’d have to say I learned them through pure experimentation. I just never had the interest to learn from anyone, though I had some guidance here and there. I mainly just figured everything out by myself.
For instance, I don’t think you are supposed to animate things on a video editing software lol, I just couldn’t be bothered to properly go through the process of learning how an animation software would work.
I’d say instincts have always been very important to me. I’m usually a very logical person, so in order to get in that mindset when creating, I need to put myself in a place where I’m completely ignorant to things sometimes in order to capture something that’s more raw and real to me.
Allen
I’d have to say I learned them through pure experimentation. I just never had the interest to learn from anyone, though I had some guidance here and there. I mainly just figured everything out by myself.
For instance, I don’t think you are supposed to animate things on a video editing software lol, I just couldn’t be bothered to properly go through the process of learning how an animation software would work.
I’d say instincts have always been very important to me. I’m usually a very logical person, so in order to get in that mindset when creating, I need to put myself in a place where I’m completely ignorant to things sometimes in order to capture something that’s more raw and real to me.
Elicit
Yeah, I think that really comes through in your work and ultimately gives it a style that's uniquely yours.
Elicit
Yeah, I think that really comes through in your work and ultimately gives it a style that's uniquely yours.
Allen
Thank you.
Allen
Thank you.
moth to a flame, his YouTube channel’s oldest video, immediately showed Cheng’s interest for experimentation and combining artforms. It would later be included in his video forever and one minute (full movie). Courtesy of Allen Cheng.
moth to a flame, his YouTube channel’s oldest video, immediately showed Cheng’s interest for experimentation and combining artforms. It would later be included in his video forever and one minute (full movie). Courtesy of Allen Cheng.
Elicit
And I really admire how you learned things yourself and even if it's not the "traditional" way of creating it, you figure out your own way. Like something that always stood out to me was in your videos where your illustrations would move, but it seemed like you were moving a physical camera that was recording them, as opposed to moving the illustrations in the editing process, if that makes sense.
Elicit
And I really admire how you learned things yourself and even if it's not the "traditional" way of creating it, you figure out your own way. Like something that always stood out to me was in your videos where your illustrations would move, but it seemed like you were moving a physical camera that was recording them, as opposed to moving the illustrations in the editing process, if that makes sense.
Allen
Oh yeah, and that’s partially also because I really like handheld camera shots in general.
Allen
Oh yeah, and that’s partially also because I really like handheld camera shots in general.
Elicit
I love that too, it definitely gives it that more raw feeling and makes things feel even more personal, even to me as a viewer.
Elicit
I love that too, it definitely gives it that more raw feeling and makes things feel even more personal, even to me as a viewer.
Allen
Yup, also I think it creates a contrast with some of the animations that are done in a more traditional way, if that makes sense. Since everything I do is hand-drawn, [and] I couldn’t be bothered to draw 24 fps every time, so it’d look choppy more often than not. But having a lot of motions during certain parts makes up for it.
Allen
Yup, also I think it creates a contrast with some of the animations that are done in a more traditional way, if that makes sense. Since everything I do is hand-drawn, [and] I couldn’t be bothered to draw 24 fps every time, so it’d look choppy more often than not. But having a lot of motions during certain parts makes up for it.
Elicit
Yeah, I didn't even think about that, how the motion helps tie things together.
Elicit
Yeah, I didn't even think about that, how the motion helps tie things together.
Allen
For sure.
Allen
For sure.
I believe every individual is just another version of me. We might not have gone through the exact same thing, but the feelings we get from them are more or less the same sometimes.
I believe every individual is just another version of me. We might not have gone through the exact same thing, but the feelings we get from them are more or less the same sometimes.
Elicit
And when you're pairing together your illustrations with the video elements, how do you decide which go together? Do you try to make them fit together, do you value contrasting them, does it depend?
Elicit
And when you're pairing together your illustrations with the video elements, how do you decide which go together? Do you try to make them fit together, do you value contrasting them, does it depend?
Allen
I’m gonna have to say it depends more often than not. I have a clear vision of what I want each work of mine to express, so different decisions are made for different things.
Allen
I’m gonna have to say it depends more often than not. I have a clear vision of what I want each work of mine to express, so different decisions are made for different things.
Elicit
Definitely, that makes sense. Your videos are so focused, and it's clear you have a strong idea in mind when you make them. Do your ideas for each work of yours come from your experiences, your thoughts about things, or somewhere else?
Elicit
Definitely, that makes sense. Your videos are so focused, and it's clear you have a strong idea in mind when you make them. Do your ideas for each work of yours come from your experiences, your thoughts about things, or somewhere else?
Allen
They are mostly based on my own experiences, and even when they’re based on somebody else’s, I try to view them as if they’re my own. I believe every individual is just another version of me. We might not have gone through the exact same thing, but the feelings we get from them are more or less the same sometimes. In that regard, I’m able to feel for them, almost as if those experiences are equally personal to me too.
Allen
They are mostly based on my own experiences, and even when they’re based on somebody else’s, I try to view them as if they’re my own. I believe every individual is just another version of me. We might not have gone through the exact same thing, but the feelings we get from them are more or less the same sometimes. In that regard, I’m able to feel for them, almost as if those experiences are equally personal to me too.
Elicit
Wow, I think that's really well said.
Elicit
Wow, I think that's really well said.
Allen
I think it’s the same when you’re curating a project like this right? You have to learn to love everyone’s stories and thoughts?
Allen
I think it’s the same when you’re curating a project like this right? You have to learn to love everyone’s stories and thoughts?
Elicit
Most definitely. When I started looking into experimental film, I found out that “experimental” basically means that everybody is doing their own unique thing to express how they are feeling. And in my research, I definitely want to highlight how much variety and unique work is out there, rather than grouping everything together or saying that one way is better than another.
Elicit
Most definitely. When I started looking into experimental film, I found out that “experimental” basically means that everybody is doing their own unique thing to express how they are feeling. And in my research, I definitely want to highlight how much variety and unique work is out there, rather than grouping everything together or saying that one way is better than another.
Allen
For sure yeah.
Allen
For sure yeah.
Elicit
But I think these personal stories felt with empathy are really shown through your work, where, even if they are abstract at some parts, the emotions of them come through regardless. In your work, do you hope to have a clear message said through them, or do you like to leave things open to personal interpretation?
Elicit
But I think these personal stories felt with empathy are really shown through your work, where, even if they are abstract at some parts, the emotions of them come through regardless. In your work, do you hope to have a clear message said through them, or do you like to leave things open to personal interpretation?
Allen
Some things are better left unexplained, some things cannot be explained even if I try to. If you ask me about a particular piece I might be able to explain it, but I mostly want people to find the meaning that is the most healing to them, if that makes sense.
I think everything we need for us to heal ourselves and better ourselves are within us already, art can be seen as a sparkle for us to realise what they are and to truly ignite them. So it is more valuable to me that everyone find their own meaning and use that to their advantage.
Allen
Some things are better left unexplained, some things cannot be explained even if I try to. If you ask me about a particular piece I might be able to explain it, but I mostly want people to find the meaning that is the most healing to them, if that makes sense.
I think everything we need for us to heal ourselves and better ourselves are within us already, art can be seen as a sparkle for us to realise what they are and to truly ignite them. So it is more valuable to me that everyone find their own meaning and use that to their advantage.
Elicit
Absolutely, that's a very admirable effect you want to your work to have on people.
Elicit
Absolutely, that's a very admirable effect you want to your work to have on people.
Allen
Thank you, man. I’d like to think it’s my contribution to the world, as self-indulgent as it sounds, but yeah.
Allen
Thank you, man. I’d like to think it’s my contribution to the world, as self-indulgent as it sounds, but yeah.
Elicit
No yeah, I think it's a very worthwhile cause, and I really hope more people can experience that through your work.
Elicit
No yeah, I think it's a very worthwhile cause, and I really hope more people can experience that through your work.
Allen
I really, really hope so too.
Allen
I really, really hope so too.
The leading character of Hanami, Cheng’s second album and YouTube short film (after forever and one minute). Courtesy of Allen Cheng.
The leading character of Hanami, Cheng’s second album and YouTube short film (after forever and one minute). Courtesy of Allen Cheng.
Elicit
And speaking of, you've mentioned working on a feature film and wishing to create work for television. Do you think these things would help you reach even more people? Or what other hopes do you have for your work in the future?
Elicit
And speaking of, you've mentioned working on a feature film and wishing to create work for television. Do you think these things would help you reach even more people? Or what other hopes do you have for your work in the future?
Allen
I’d love to reach more people for sure, but also to just be able to have the resources I need to reach new levels, because I definitely think I’m capable of creating something bigger than what I’m doing now. Also, I want to get paid.
Allen
I’d love to reach more people for sure, but also to just be able to have the resources I need to reach new levels, because I definitely think I’m capable of creating something bigger than what I’m doing now. Also, I want to get paid.
Elicit
Absolutely, limited resources is definitely a drawback in making work just on YouTube. Especially when it comes to film, which requires so much time and resources.
I know in a comment you left on one of your videos, you also expressed being very grateful for your YouTube community. How do you feel about your current situation sharing work on YouTube?
Elicit
Absolutely, limited resources is definitely a drawback in making work just on YouTube. Especially when it comes to film, which requires so much time and resources.
I know in a comment you left on one of your videos, you also expressed being very grateful for your YouTube community. How do you feel about your current situation sharing work on YouTube?
Allen
If we are being honest, in the long run YouTube is probably not gonna get me anywhere big. It’d be hard to make a sustainable amount of money, and the impact I create would not be very big. I’d like to put my works onto big screens. But I will always be grateful for the people that took the time to see the things I made, I’m grateful right now and I always will be.
Currently, I have a very good small community that allows me to be personal without feeling pathetic. I’m aware that my community would only get more and more problematic as it grows bigger—it’s inevitable, but for the people that are genuinely supportive, I’m always grateful, regardless of how I platform my works.
Allen
If we are being honest, in the long run YouTube is probably not gonna get me anywhere big. It’d be hard to make a sustainable amount of money, and the impact I create would not be very big. I’d like to put my works onto big screens. But I will always be grateful for the people that took the time to see the things I made, I’m grateful right now and I always will be.
Currently, I have a very good small community that allows me to be personal without feeling pathetic. I’m aware that my community would only get more and more problematic as it grows bigger—it’s inevitable, but for the people that are genuinely supportive, I’m always grateful, regardless of how I platform my works.
Elicit
Yeah, I feel that YouTube is like a double-edged sword in that you can have a lot of unique artists sharing work, but they're never rewarded as much as the larger "content creators." And I truly hope that over time, and maybe even a little bit through my project, that I can help people recognize all of the unique, special art being made by small creators.
Elicit
Yeah, I feel that YouTube is like a double-edged sword in that you can have a lot of unique artists sharing work, but they're never rewarded as much as the larger "content creators." And I truly hope that over time, and maybe even a little bit through my project, that I can help people recognize all of the unique, special art being made by small creators.
Allen
I think you’re doing something good for sure, but whether or not it’ll be helpful depends on lots of factors. Sometimes the world simply doesn’t let us get our way even if we have the purest intentions. But I sincerely wish both of us the best of luck man.
Allen
I think you’re doing something good for sure, but whether or not it’ll be helpful depends on lots of factors. Sometimes the world simply doesn’t let us get our way even if we have the purest intentions. But I sincerely wish both of us the best of luck man.
Elicit
Yes, you too, I really think and hope that you're going to make really big and impactful work in the future.
Elicit
Yes, you too, I really think and hope that you're going to make really big and impactful work in the future.
Allen
Thanks man, I hope so too.
Allen
Thanks man, I hope so too.
