Forbidden City - by Lily & Honglei

Forbidden City

Artist: Lily & Honglei
Medium: Digital Animation and soundtrack
Duration: 5'48"
Year of Completio: 2008
Music: Traditional guqin 'Guang Ling San'

Integrating traditional Chinese cut paper and digital animation techniques, Forbidden City creates a space rethinking individual’s sociocultural position in contemporary China. The scene is set in a serene, traditional interior of a teahouse near Forbidden City in Beijing. The environment, with a cup of green tea steaming under sunshine, looks seemingly peaceful. The window panel, a metaphor of the boundary between social surrounding and individual's inner world, is decorated with a popular Chinese symbol, the character of "Prosperity (福）." When the auspicious symbol is falling, another layer of reality is revealed. Toward the end of the film, the blood-like red substance transforms to steam and back into the teacup, while "Prosperity" character returns to the window, which again contribute to the harmonious atmosphere. Only the covered facts are left for us to taste. The background music is an ancient qin melody, Guangling San, composed and played by Ji Kang, who is regarded as one of the most important independent thinkers throughout Chinese history.

The work received 'People's Choice' award at Museum of Art and Design, New York: http://movingpaper.madmuseum.org

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