White Magnolia

Animating Shanghai’s Skyline

Public performance, December 2020-May 2021, Supported by the Sinar Mas Group and NYU Shanghai

The White Magnolia building, a prominent landmark located on Shanghai’s North Bund, features one of the largest media facades in the world, with an astounding daily exposure to approximately 800,000 viewers. This stunning backdrop became the canvas for a groundbreaking public media performance that sought to push the boundaries of conventional imagery typically associated with Shanghai’s iconic Bund skyline.

From December 2020 to May 2021, I presented an immersive, generative media composition designed to enhance and transform the skyline into a dynamic visual narrative. With the generous support of Sinar Mas Group and NYU Shanghai, the project aimed to blend diverse perspectives, cultural identities, and timelines. It embraced a state of flux, continuously evolving and weaving together vibrant imagery that reflected the energy and fluidity of modern Shanghai.

The work explored themes of transformation and possibility, offering a vision of bright futures—one filled with hope, desire, and contentment. The media composition deconstructed traditional representations of urban life, instead creating an ever-changing tapestry of visuals that embodied the spirit of progress and the interconnectedness of people and place. It engaged viewers by invoking deep cultural resonance while also inviting new ways of thinking about the city’s dynamic nature and its potential for innovation.

Displayed on the façade of the White Magnolia building, the piece created a dialogue with Shanghai’s historic skyline, inviting passersby to engage in a visual conversation about the city’s ever-shifting identity. The generative visuals were carefully designed to challenge and expand upon the aesthetic norms of the region, pushing the boundaries of what could be expected from the city’s towering structures and iconic landmarks.