Allegories of Zhong Kui｜Protection and Judgment in Folk

Allegories of Zhong Kui takes the legendary figure of Zhong Kui from East Asian folk religion as its central motif, exploring how religious imagery transforms into spiritual allegories in a contemporary context. Traditionally regarded as a guardian against demons and malevolent forces, Zhong Kui embodies not only the power to subdue fear but also the moral order that preserves justice. Through dramatic lighting, staged compositions, and theatrical gestures, this series re-situates the ancient religious symbol within the language of modern photography. In these images, Zhong Kui is both a supernatural deity and a mirror of human anxieties and desires. His sword, his piercing gaze, and the attendants surrounding him construct a visual ritual that suggests religion does not only dwell in temples but also within the collective psyche of culture. Rather than simply reconstructing folklore, the series seeks to reinterpret and reimagine the symbol through aesthetic translation and conceptual reinvention. It asks the viewer to feel the weight of belief and the tension of existence in a world where the sacred and the profane still collide.