2026 NANAOUYANG Shanghai Concert: Playlist Carnival

About The Entry

Staged at dusk, Playlist Carnival was an immersive concert that transformed a natural landscape into a secluded musical sanctuary. Tailored for artist Nana Ouyang—both a contemporary vocalist and a classical cellist—the scenography translated her intimate, everyday music logs into a time-based spatial narrative, constructing an ephemeral dreamland infused with a carnival spirit.

Driven by the artist’s multifaceted expressions, the spatial design adopted "Fantasia"—a free-form musical composition—as its core conceptual framework. Breaking away from traditional, unidirectional stage layouts, a multicursal hedge maze was strategically deployed as the central orchestra pit. This physical intervention established a narrative space of exploration and mystery, anchoring the live performance deeply within the living environment.

The visual sequencing was meticulously choreographed into distinct chapters, each unfolding a unique visual "fantasy." The scenography evolved dynamically with the surroundings: cascading meteors illuminated nocturnal whispers, flora appeared to grow wildly within the geometric confines of the maze, and surreal windows opened into ocean and forest dreamscapes.

By treating nature as the ultimate visual and acoustic container, the landscape of a "musical forest" was seamlessly integrated into the stagecraft. As the sun set and the summer breeze swept through, the boundaries between the audience, the performers, and the natural environment completely dissolved. Held within its own bounds, the space became a world unto itself—crafting the romantic, atmospheric undertone of a midsummer night's carnival.

Featured Media