Before the Mountain Dreams

Size: 30*40cm
Materials: Acrylic on Linen Panel
Year of work: 2026
Description:

The work draws upon the mythical imagery and female figures in Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio (Liaozhai Zhiyi), exploring how femininity, desire, and monstrosity are shaped by the male gaze.

Rather than depicting a specific narrative, the painting constructs a dreamlike landscape where nature and the supernatural intertwine, blurring the boundaries between reality and illusion.

Through the portrayal of female spirits traditionally seen as seductive or dangerous, the work questions whether their monstrosity is inherent or constructed through masculine desire and fear. It seeks to reconsider their vulnerability and agency, imagining a feminine existence beyond the narratives imposed upon them.

XINYI LIU

Before the Mountain Dreams