Kerrie Zhuge
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I have a deep fascination with exploring different cultures and folklores, and The Classic of Mountains and Rivers (ShanhaiChing) is one of my favorites. This legendary Chinese text, filled with vivid depictions of mythical beasts, humans, and extraordinary landscapes, has captivated my imagination since childhood. My mum used to read its ancient verses to me, describing these fantastical creatures and places that diverged from reality, sparking a lifelong curiosity and inspiring me to visualize how they might appear in my mind.
This project consists of four illustrated pieces that imagine a world illuminated by the legends of ShanhaiChing. The setting is inspired by a Chinese saying, often translated as “The Time of Wolf or Dog,” which refers to the magical hour around five or six o’clock in the evening. During this time, the light of day begins to fade, yet the darkness of night has not fully taken over. Faces on the streets are veiled in shadows, and an approaching animal in the distance remains ambiguous—if it is a dog, you are safe; if it is a wolf, you are not. This liminal, mysterious, and blurred image of twilight encapsulates a sense of uncertainty, magic, and suspense.
In this project, I combine the legendary world of ShanhaiChing with this mystical hour to create an imagined realm where creatures and humans coexist in a state of ambiguity. This world evokes feelings of wonder and fear, presenting unexpected surprises and a glimpse of the unknown. Through these illustrations, I aim to transport viewers into a mythical space inspired by ancient Chinese folklore, where imagination and reality blur together under the fleeting light of dusk.
This illustration brings to life the creatures of The Classic of Mountains and Rivers during a subway ride at sunset. As the day fades into night, these mystical beings reveal themselves, celebrating and interacting with passengers who might mistake their presence for a dream. This piece invites you to imagine the hidden wonders around you—what if, in those moments between shifts, the line between the mundane and the magical is thinner than we think? Always pay attention to your surroundings; you may not be dreaming after all.
In ShanhaiChing, there is a mythical place where all adults are only as tall as small children. Many consider it merely a legend, but in this illustration, the world of these tiny beings comes alive. If you look closely, you might spot them hiding under your desk, climbing your bookshelves, or even stealing food from your table. The scene captures a playful and surreal coexistence of the unseen world within our daily lives.
This piece is inspired by the Chinese saying, “The time of wolf or dog.” During sunset, a magical hour when the light shifts between day and night, the line between reality and imagination blurs. Creatures from a distant place emerge, but their forms are ambiguous—are they wolves or dogs? This blurred vision hides their true nature, and amidst the fading light, they may go unnoticed by the human eye.
To extend this project, I brought these illustrated pieces into the physical world by projecting their presence into real-life spaces. Using boards, I cut out shapes of the creatures and layered them with varying thicknesses to create dynamic changes in their shadows. These subtle and imperceptible creatures symbolize the possibility of coexisting with us throughout our lives, hidden in plain sight. As long as you pay close enough attention, you may discover their traces in the shadows and corners of your everyday surroundings.