Imagine stepping into a dimly lit room where a legendary warrior from Chinese folklore prepares for battle—but this time, you’re not just watching. You’re part of her story. 🪞✨
Chinese artist Li Hanxuan’s interactive installation, Shadow Lamp: In Front of the Mirror, reimagines Mu Guiying, the iconic heroine from the Yang Family Legends, in a groundbreaking fusion of shadow puppetry and digital technology. The artwork reveals a rarely seen side of the warrior: a young woman brushing her hair and donning armor, her private moment frozen in time before she transforms into a battlefield legend. 🛡️💇♀️
Li’s work is part of the Dian Xi Yi Ben – Shadow Puppetry and Contemporary Art Exhibition at Beijing’s Nanchizi Museum, running for three months. By blending classical shadow play techniques with modern interactivity, the piece invites viewers to engage with history like never before—think ‘Encanto’ meets augmented reality, but with 1,000-year-old cultural roots. 📜💡
Mu Guiying, celebrated for her bravery and strategic genius, has long symbolized female resilience in Chinese culture. Li’s installation asks: What stories do her quiet moments tell? The answer unfolds through flickering shadows and digital light, bridging ancient folklore with Gen-Z’s love for immersive experiences. 🌌
This isn’t just art—it’s a time machine. And it’s rewriting how young audiences connect with heritage, one shadow at a time.
