NOvia (Shin Pui San),is an illustrator who’s all about mapping. She often lurk in caves, old streets, rusty markets, and random clutter.
Originally from Malaysia and with a background in Multimedia and Graphic Design, NOvia won the Nando’s Peri-fy Art Competition in 2012. At 25, she held her solo exhibition, Not So Long Ago, sponsored by Nando's. In 2017, she went on to win the Grand Prize in Malaysia’s Young Contemporaries Art Competition organized by the National Visual Arts Gallery.
NOvia has a deep passion for documenting Malaysia’s local culture and history, with a special love for the quiet, often-overlooked details that tend to get lost in the rush for the 'biggest' or 'best.' These subtle stories captivate her, and she enjoys experimenting with different media—illustration, paper art, miniatures, comics, and animation—to find fresh, meaningful ways to share them.
This will be something that keep her busy for a lifetime.
NOvia Shin Pui San
Currently lives in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2022
‘Pasar Karat ‘ picture book exhibition,
茑屋书店 Tsutaya books, Malaysia
‘Pasar Karat ‘ picture book exhibition,
童里繪本洋行 Maison Temps-Rêves, Taiwan
2013
'Not So Long Ago' first solo exhibition, Publika,KL.
Selected Group Exhibitions
2024
Titik Garis Bentuk: Drawing as Practice
Ilham Gallery
From Sketch to Print
茑屋书店 Tsutaya books, Malaysia
2023
Angin Berlabuh - Asian Documentary Comics
Hin Bus Depot, Malaysia.
2022
「熱帶季風」原畫展, 紙本分格 zbfghk, Hong Kong.
2021
Di Situ : An Exhibition, Kongsi KL, Kuala Lumpur.
Documentaty comics exhibition, P320 centre, Johor..
2019
A new wave of Asian Documentaty comics,
The Pier-2 Art Center, Taiwan
2017
KL Biennale, National Art Gallery Malaysia
3 Belas, National Art Gallery Malaysia
Ilham Contemporary Forum, Ilham Gallery
Pameran 101 Dimana YOUng, National Art Gallery Malaysia
Slowork Publishing 5th Anniversary Exhibition, Mangasick Taiwan
2016
People’s Youth Exhibition, Malaysian Heritage and History Club
Remembrance as Resistance:Human Rights Art Exhibition,
Publika,KL
2013
M50 Selamat Hari Malaysia art exhibition, Map KL
2010
' SPARKS ' the journey showcase 2010, Map KL.
Awards
2023
Special Merit Award "The Life and Times of Jenah"
Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Festival (KLEFF)
2nd Runner-up "The Life and Times of Jenah"
Three Acts of Goodness Micro Film Festival
2020
Best Animation Nominees - The Secret Life of Durian
The 13th International KL Eco Film Fest 2020
2016
Grand-prize winner of Bakat Muda Sezaman 2016 (BMS'16)
Malaysia Young Contemporary Award 2016
2012
Grand-prize winner of Nando's PERi-fy Art Competition
Top 10 winner of The 6th Malaysia Chinese Blog Award
Publications
Pasar Karat picture book, Taiwan
Illustration published in The Star Newspaper ( weekly 2014 )
Illustrations published in Sin Chew Daily News ( bi-weekly 2021 - present )
Illustrations published in Oriental Daily News
Illustrations published in Flavours food magazine
Illustration published in movie 我来自纽约1& 2
Comics published in Monsoon - a documentary comic, Taiwan
Comics published in Strapazin comic magazine, Switzerland
Membership in societies, organizations
Cofounder of Kaki Jelajah Warisan
an organizations that introducing interesting
historical tours to attract more people to visit
and discover the local culture and history.
https://www.facebook.com/KakiJelajahWarisan
Ambassador
2019
Wacom Malaysia 2019
Art Festival
Invited to join Pangkor Island Festival 2013,
in charge of oral history and publications.