Selected works in this series were shown at iidrr gallary and Stilllife art fair

In 2023, I created a series of digital illustrations that re-interprets the forms of ancient deities through the lens of our contemporary instincts. Drawing on influences from minimalist design, bioluminescent lifeforms, and Neolithic engraving motifs, in this series, I re-imagine these entities are not just as super-humans or a jigsaw puzzle of beastly features; rather, these depictions attempt to embody our current, transformative perception of power, mythology, and the sacred.

The series originated from an exploration of the Chinese goddess 女娲 and the changes to her mythology throughout Chinese history. In the earliest written records that made a reference to 女娲, it vaguely mention her intestines giving birth to ten other gods. It was only later on that her image as a half-human, half-serpent gradually solidified. She was celebrated as a hero from a great flood, paired with male deities to represent the concept of matrimony, and cast as a villainous mastermind that brought havoc to the 商dynasty. Her myth branched into various verisons, merging into the narratives circulating the Chinese diaspora today.

Yet, the earlier, more cryptic descriptions suggest her origins might not be solely tied to serpent worship or female fertility. Instead, they hint at something more abstract: the symbolism of water bodies, rivers, and the perpetual cycle of life. In modern cultural discourse, then, it seems fitting to release our ancient diety from conventional constraints and typecasting, and re-create it according to the most primal, obscure roots—as a non-gendered, non-human entity that embodies contuity, transformation, and infinitude.