Moons Upon Water
Media
2021
Digital Printing
Acrylic Accessories
Design/ Styling: CasKang
Model: MaChiYuan
Photography: LVShanYe
Make up: GuanBoLan
About
The moon has long been a symbol of illusions and feminine power. According to legend, medieval witches used mirrors to reflect moonlight, creating the illusion of multiple moons. This project draws inspiration from the traditional Chinese erhu piece“Two Moons upon the Fountain,” exploring the interplay between water and moonlight and the mesmerizing visual illusions they create. These ethereal interactions are reimagined as wearable accessories, forming a poetic and fluid connection with the human body.
Moon, Water and Illusions
This project began as a class assignment, exploring the essence of the erhu piece “Two Moons upon the Fountain” through various media. The initial outcome was a simple, multi-layered acrylic installation that established the foundational tone of the work. “Two Moons upon the Fountain,” a celebrated Chinese erhu composition, draws its poetic name from a scenic site at West Lake.
At West Lake, three gourd-shaped stone pagodas rise from the glittering water. On Mid-Autumn Festival nights, when the moon ascends, candles are placed inside the circular openings of the pagodas and covered with thin paper. From afar, the candlelight resembles small moons, reflected as multiple luminous orbs on the water's surface. The moonlight bathes the pagodas, which, in turn, reflect the moon. According to legend, up to 33 moons can be seen shimmering on the lake during clear full-moon nights.
Drawing from the imagery of “water” and “moon”, I layered the phases of the moon to depict the shifting interplay of light and shadow as moonlight dances on the sparkling waves. This approach creates a poetic dialogue between the fluid, ever-changing forms and their dreamlike reflections, deepening the project’s exploration of illusion and transformation.