2025 Shanghai International Paper Art Biennale - Paper& Water

As one of the Chinese participants in this exhibition, our artwork, "The Nine-Colored Deer," drew inspiration from the mural "The Legend of the Deer King" in Cave 257 of the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang. The story primarily narrates the heroic quality of the "Deer King" sacrificing itself to save others, echoing the exhibition's theme, "Supreme Goodness is Like Water." Supreme goodness is like water, possessing an altruistic, inclusive, and humble nature. It is also the courage to stand up and fearlessly sacrifice in critical moments, much like the Deer King, to practice this goodness. The main body of the artwork is a glowing deer, created using a 3D-printed structure. Sulfite paper was cut into strands of fur and meticulously attached to the body, with embedded LED light strips inside. The entire piece took 30 days to complete.

It was a great honor to exchange and learn from outstanding artists worldwide. The ones who left the deepest impression on me were German artist Verena Friedrich and Chilean artist Claudio Acuna. In the days leading up to the exhibition, we provided them with a creative space (a paper art factory located in Fengxian, Shanghai). At our paper art factory, we witnessed their creative processes firsthand and shared their artistic concepts and insights. Their exhibits were also highly popular at the museum, marking a profound exchange between Eastern and Western paper art cultures. After spending several days together, we became friends and have kept in touch!