Lantern · Girl
From the series Lantern
Oil on canvas, 100 x 80 cm
 
In Lantern, Zhao reflects on light as both a physical presence and a cultural metaphor. Rooted in tradition yet rendered with contemporary sensitivity, this series explores how illumination — in its simplest form — becomes a carrier of memory, identity, and quiet resilience.
 
In Lantern · Girl, Zhao captures a moment of introspection and innocence: a young girl delicately crafting a lantern. Her gesture is tender, yet symbolic — echoing generations of ritual, craftsmanship, and the passing down of culture through quiet, intentional acts. The soft lighting and restrained palette create a meditative atmosphere, inviting the viewer into an intimate space of reflection.
 
Drawing from Chinese visual traditions and personal narrative, Zhao’s printmaking practice delicately balances nostalgia and modernity. Through Lantern, he honours the fading rituals of everyday life while questioning how light continues to guide us, not just in the dark, but through our own evolving identities.