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Since we can travel around the world and visit different countries, people noticed cultural differences that are here to this day. That is what makes traveling fun, to change your usual setting with something new and unexplored. 

Yang Liu a young artist from Beijing currently living in Germany illustrates the social and cultural differences between her Eastern and Western worlds in her project “Ost trifft West,” or “East Meets West,” which conveys a strong message on the differences she personally experienced.

"Ost trifft West" is a series of infographic posters that compare German and Chinese people in accurate and humorous ways. The infographics highlight important human elements such as self-perception, opinion expression, and mood.

So without further ado, we invite you to explore the differences captured by this incredibly observant artist.

More info: yangliudesign.com | amazon.com

#1

The Boss

The Boss

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If you wonder how Yang Liu gathered information, such as whether she used interviews, research, or theories, her reply is this: “The fact is that every single illustration is my very personal experience in the past 13-17 years, and this work was made as a documentation of my own life,” she said. As an artist who was raised in multiple cultures, she doesn’t feel like she belongs to any of them: “I am feeling myself more as a person who belongs to all the places I have been,” says Liu.

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    #3

    Expressing Opinion

    Expressing Opinion

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    Alexander
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    As a german I can deeply relate. Whats the thing about Smalltalk or talking around the bush in soooo many countries? If you have to say something then do it and not let me guess what you really mean.......why wasting time? *sight*

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    Sure, we are all aware of cultural differences around the world, such as social norms, family structure, religion, cuisine, and the more day-to-day ones that Liu has depicted in her illustrations. Historical, geographic, economic, and social factors are just some of the ones that form differences in the way we perceive and interact with the world around us.

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    #4

    Standing In A Line

    Standing In A Line

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    When moving to a new country, no matter how close or far from your home, the beginning can be quite challenging and time-consuming. In order to adapt might require some adjusting to a new culture and adopting its values, beliefs, customs, and behaviors. Building new relationships and keeping an open mind is the right way to start.

    In Liu’s illustrations’ on one side, we might recognize ourselves more than on the other one, and it might raise questions: what else is different? How does that affect our mental health? Could I maybe learn new things and include them in my life to make it easier? 

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    What do you, Pandas, think when seeing Liu’s depiction? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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    #10

    Noise Level At The Restaurant

    Noise Level At The Restaurant

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    Headless Roach
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    *noise level everywhere in China. Chinese cities are full of sounds coming out of absolutely everywhere.

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    #13

    Self Perception

    Self Perception

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    Hannah M
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    People, this isn't saying that Chinese have low self-esteem or don't value themselves. It's comparing the individualism of the West to the collective mindset of the East. To a westerner the self is the primary consideration; in the east the self is a small part of the wider community

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    #14

    Cultural Perceptions: Germans vs. Chinese

    Cultural Perceptions: Germans vs. Chinese

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    #15

    At A Party

    At A Party

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    BlueEyesWhiteDragon
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm one of the little lonely dots on the German side. I would say I wish I lived on the circle side, but I would probably get overwhelmed by my nearest dots and try to leave early.

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    #17

    Three Meals A Day

    Three Meals A Day

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    Lyone Fein
    Community Member
    1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    More variety in Germany? Oh no, I get it. Cold and hot meals. Ok.

    JJ
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Not true. The trend goes to warm dinner as well. Might also be a generational thing (my grandma and parents prefer cold dinner (bread), people around my age (30s) warm dinner). Highly depends on whether they're working, too.

    censorshipsucks
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    cold for supper? ok. In my country it's cold/cold/hot unless you get a burger or similar for lunch

    N Miller
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Might depend when your main meal of the day is. If this happens at noon, it's likely to be hot

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    G R
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's a traditional thing in Germany to have your hot meal at lunchtime and cold food (like bread and cold meats) for dinner. A lot of Germans have a cooked meal for dinner nowadays, but traditionally yes dinner would be cold.

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    Steven
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wouldn't it be cold, cold, hot in most countries, and not cold, hot, cold?

    Lea Augusta
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why would it? Traditional English breakfast is hot. Lots of Americans eat a hot breakfast, even if it's just oatmeal.

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    NedVed MaPa
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Don't know where in the west they were but most would have cold cold hot

    Thrudd
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Weird. My household Hot/cold breakfast Cold lunch Hot dinner

    Eliza May
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    World news: 'Germans can no longer afforf food, must eat snow'...

    Helena V. H.
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I don't think that this is accurate. We have hot meals lunch and dinner.

    Lea Augusta
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes, they are extremely strict about the temperature of a meal in Germany. And they think a hot breakfast is crazy town. I was told by several people that a "a cold meal is better for the figure", which is absolute rot considering it usually consists of bread, butter and cold cuts.

    Verena
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If there is a canteen at the workplace, yes. Also for "Ganztagsschulen", 8h - 16h

    Yu Pan
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    No, China is red. #8 is about what's trending in each place. In China, Western food is trending. #17 is about the perception of the other. So when China (red) thinks of Germany it thinks of sausage, beer and traditional clothing

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    #18

    Contacts And Connections

    Contacts And Connections

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    #19

    Cure For Stomach Ache

    Cure For Stomach Ache

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    #21

    Lifestyle: Independent vs. Dependent

    Lifestyle: Independent vs. Dependent

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    Autistic McWolferson the Forth
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So basically "disappoint your family in any way and be disowned" in China. No real chance to develop your own genuine personality in a world like that

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    #22

    Ideal Of Beauty

    Ideal Of Beauty

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    Ian Reynolds
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Is this to do with skin colour or tone? Germans prefer darker skin and Chinese prefer lighter skin tones? If it is not, I don’t get it.

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