Meet Again

About The Entry

Meet Again centers on ancient paintings as its narrative core, using anthropomorphic techniques to breathe life into static cultural relics, allowing millennia-old civilizations to "speak" through the pages. Structured as a series of interconnected short stories, the picture book explores the theme of cultural appropriation, weaving together the evolution of traditional Chinese elements across different historical contexts. From the flying Apsaras patterns of Dunhuang murals to the ice-crack glaze of Song Dynasty porcelain, from the embroidery on traditional costumes to the dougong brackets of ancient architecture, each unit acts as a window into the past, showcasing the unique charm of Chinese culture while provoking reflection on cultural inheritance and innovation.

Inspired by Li Bai’s poetic line, "The moon today is the same that shone on the ancients," the book employs varied cinematic perspectives (from panoramic scrolls to close-ups of relic details) to guide readers through a journey of "observing the grand narrative from afar and appreciating the details up close," evoking a sense of temporal flow. The color palette draws from traditional Chinese hues—such as "Tianshui Bi" (sky-water green), "Yanzhi Fei" (rouge red), and "Songhua Huang" (pine-flower yellow)—blending ink-wash techniques with meticulous brushwork. This approach preserves the elegance of ancient art while infusing modern illustration’s dynamic rhythm for visual impact.

The work unfolds as a cross-millennial dialogue: a Tang Dynasty court lady meets a contemporary girl; taotie patterns on bronze vessels collide with street graffiti; traditional motifs are reimagined in modern design. This "reunion" is not merely a historical retrospective but a contemporary interpretation of cultural vitality, inviting readers to experience the profound message that "culture knows no boundaries, and inheritance resonates through time" with every turn of the page.