Faculty of Design

Illustration

Jiaxin Zou

Hidden Vision

'Hidden Vision' reinterprets a series of traditional Chinese mystical stories, challenging stereotypes through illustrations with a strong visual impact. It exposes the struggles and oppression of women in these stories, fostering empathy, encouraging critical reflection, and questioning old societal norms.

“In traditional Chinese mystical stories, women are often portrayed as fair ladies falling in love with scholars, managing households, or seeking revenge for men. This portrayal suggests selfless sacrifice, raising the question: were these women truly ignorant and unquestioning?Therefore, my goal is to provide a fresh interpretation of these mystical tales through the perspective of female characters, challenging these stereotypes. I plan to use vertical illustrations and details to capture the subtle meanings within these stories. The expressions and postures of the female characters imply their struggles, while details symbolize their entrapment or forced sacrifices. These visual effects will reveal the oppression and hardships faced by these female characters, showing the audience that the stories are not as harmonious as they may seem or known on the surface. This project aims to urge the audience to question what they see and read—to see beyond the surface. These stories serve as a reminder: appearances can be deceiving. It's a call to critically examine societal narratives, especially concerning women's roles. Let's question, challenge, and redefine these stories together. ”