"Shan Hai Jing" is an ancient book rich in mythology, which preserves a large number of myths and legends and records many mysterious gods and animals.
The bifang who only gave birth to one foot, the shark man with tears of pearls, the eagle fish with bird wings, the fox with nine tails... these strange-looking beasts brought endless reveries to people.
Huanhuan, a "post-95" female photographer from Chengdu, re-infused her understanding through character modeling and image restoration, and created a beautiful world of "Shan Hai Jing" twice.
"Shan Hai Jing" Fu Zhu.
Photo courtesy of respondents
Fuzhu, Yinglong, Queen Mother of the West, Lovebirds... the images that originally existed only in legends looked beautiful, agile and visually striking under Huanhuan’s lens, attracting more than 200,000 fans on Weibo.
"Shan Hai Jing" multiply yellow.
Photo courtesy of respondents
Huanhuan puts makeup on the model who plays the strange animal in "Shan Hai Jing".
Photo courtesy of respondents
Since the birth of the first work in 2017, Huanhuan has photographed more than 30 groups of "Shan Hai Jing" anthropomorphic animals.
Throughout the creative process, Huanhuan was not only in charge of photography, she took care of everything from manuscript drawing to costumes, makeup, and even prop making.
Huanhuan in the photo.
Photo courtesy of respondents
When it comes to "Shan Hai Jing", there are stars in her eyes
Huanhuan, formerly known as Chen Xin, is a "post-95" commercial photographer.
I studied fine art during college and picked up a camera because of my experience as a model.
"I like photography, because the images in my mind can be realized through photography." Huanhuan said.
Completion of "Shan Hai Jing".
Photo courtesy of respondents
When I was young, Huanhuan liked to listen to my grandma telling myths.
In the mouth of grandma, there are beasts with long faces, snakes with nine heads, birds with three legs... countless wonderful stories planted a mysterious seed in Huanhuan's heart, which made her fascinated.
"Shan Hai Jing" 鮯鮯鱼.
Photo courtesy of respondents
After growing up, Huanhuan came into contact with the "Shan Hai Jing", she suddenly discovered that the ethereal stories dictated by her grandmother actually have their origins and were recorded in the "Shan Hai Jing".
Since then, Huanhuan's interest in "Shan Hai Jing" has become out of control.
"The "Shan Hai Jing" attracts me because of its unconstrained nature. Based on the limited text description, I can imagine infinitely." Huan Huan said with emotion.
"Shan Hai Jing" Shuren.
Photo courtesy of respondents
Huanhuan puts makeup on the model who plays the strange animal in "Shan Hai Jing".
Photo courtesy of respondents
One summer in 2017, Huanhuan, who was engaged in photography, went to a bookstore to read and found an illustrated book of "Shan Hai Jing". When I opened it, I saw Cheng Huang's illustration.
The "Shan Hai Jing" describes that Chenghuang “looks like a fox, with horns on its back, and its life span is two thousand years old.” The illustration shows Chenghuang with white body and long triangular horns on its back, giving Huan an intuitive appearance. Inspired by Huan, she instantly imagined the anthropomorphic form of Chenghuang in her mind, and immediately set out to restore it.
"Shan Hai Jing" 鸰.
Photo courtesy of respondents
Soon, she used 3D printing to make yellow horns, prepared clothes and models, and went to Dujiangyan for shooting.
One month after seeing the yellow illustration, I took the first set of "Shan Hai Jing" portraits.
"At that time, I felt that I had really photographed it. It was amazing!" This experience made Huanhuan determined: She wanted to shoot "Shan Hai Jing" and her own "Shan Hai Jing".
"Shan Hai Jing" South China Sea Butterfly.
Photo courtesy of respondents
"I hope that my work is based on ancient records and has a modern aesthetic. So I chose to anthropomorphize the beasts to present the reverie of the "Shan Hai Jing"." So far, as far as the "Shan Hai Jing" is concerned, Huanhuan will not miss it. Her bookshelf is full of different editions of the book of Shan Hai Jing.
Keep improving, each group of photos is amazing
When restoring the nine-tailed fox recorded in the "Shan Hai Jing", Huan Huan made 9 plush tails; while photographing her husband, she used 3D printing technology to make four snow-white antlers; in the production, she was full of bright colors. In Feather’s Bi Fang’s costume, she dyed, collaged, and sews tens of thousands of feathers one by one; in order to reproduce the fish scales on the mackerel, she went to the vegetable market to find the fish scales and processed them piece by piece... "Sometimes take pictures It only takes one hour and preparation takes one month." She "customized" each kit for each alien animal, making each set of looks beautiful and unique.
"Shan Hai Jing" Blue Bird.
Photo courtesy of respondents
In order to keep improving, sometimes I have to travel far away.
I photographed Yinglong and found a rockery in Huanhua Creek; I photographed Shengyu and spent two days in the Xiling Snow Mountain; I photographed the fat remains and selected a cave with a small waterfall in Leshan; I photographed the nine-tailed fox and the South China Sea butterfly. Then I went straight to Dunhuang, which is 2,000 kilometers away from Chengdu...For the works like this, every photo is unique.
"Shan Hai Jing" is like a fish of the night.
Photo courtesy of respondents
"What can be done in the early stage will never be left to the later stage." This is Huanhuan's shooting principle.
It is not easy to restore the appearance and characteristics of the alien beast recorded in the book, to show its living environment, and to make the artistic beauty, no matter from which angle it is considered, it is not an easy task.
But seeing the final effect after overcoming the difficulties, Huan Huan felt that all the efforts were worthwhile.
"Shan Hai Jing" Queen Mother of the West.
Photo courtesy of respondents
Huanhuan has paid a lot since shooting the "Shan Hai Jing" series.
Usually a set of photos cost tens of thousands of yuan, but she is willing to use her daily work to continue to support this unfettered creative space.
Huanhuan regards each of the "Shan Hai Jing" photos as his own "child", "I like each one. Looking at them, it's like seeing the strange beast in my heart resurrected by myself."
Carry forward the essence of culture, hope "Shan Hai Jing" will go abroad
For more than three years, Huanhuan has always insisted on presenting the unprecedented strange beasts to the audience in a modern aesthetic way.
"My only purpose for making these works is to show people a world of myths that belongs to China alone, and hope that they can go abroad and be seen by more people."
The shooting scene of "Shan Hai Jing", the strange beast "Yong".
Photo by Chen Xuanbin
Huanhuan said frankly that he is not noble, and a little "careful."
"Some sacred beasts do not say who they belong to, but they do originate in China, but after being promoted better by other countries, they become other people's. This makes me sad. Our Chinese culture itself has such good things. Should not be questioned."
"Shan Hai Jing" baby spoon.
Photo courtesy of respondents
As the "Shan Hai Jing" series of pictures became popular online, it also brought more opportunities to Huan Huan.
Many film and television crews asked her to be the conceptual design of costume modeling; some workers in the film and television industry invited her to create film and television dramas with the theme of "Shan Hai Jing"; participated in the stage dramas of "Shan Hai Jing", as the stage design and costume modeling; also participated in CCTV The documentary "Shan Hai Jing" was filmed and served as a service design in it...
"Shan Hai Jing" Ying Long.
Photo courtesy of respondents
Huanhuan had never imagined that a series of photos of the "Shan Hai Jing" series brought together the dreams shared by so many people.
Everyone loves her gorgeous dream of mountains and seas, and they each imagine their own dream of mountains and seas.
"I hope that more people understand the "Shan Hai Jing" and can help spread it. I am willing to try."
Huanhuan made makeup for the model who played the "Yong" strange animal in "Shan Hai Jing".
Photo by Chen Xuanbin
There are encounters in the depths of the mountains and seas, and there is no shortage of travel companions on the way to dreams.
In the future, in addition to maintaining the renewal of the "Shan Hai Jing" series of photos, Huan Huan and his friends are also considering giving the "Shan Hai Jing" a more diverse presentation in the form of 3D animation.
Author: Yu-ting from