Raise the Red Lantern
Raise the Red Lantern scrutinizes patriarchal dominance through a posthuman perspective. This narrative system examines Meishan’s body as an inscribed vessel shaped by traditional influences alongside surveillance mechanisms and silenced narratives. At her essence, Meishan embodies an exquisitely dressed woman whose intrinsic beauty stands trapped within an unseen, oppressive world. Ultimately, the film examines the limits of female empowerment and rebellion against an unyielding material infrastructure. The work prompts questions about whether our identities emerge from self-determination or are merely pre-programmed outputs dictated by architectural and cultural systems.
Note: This performance’s plot has been adapted from Zhang Yimou’s 1991 film. Performed by Mao Jingyi.
This project has been exhibited at the NYU Summer Show and B-dome, the first and only geodesic dome in all of Germany.