Shanghai’s Power Station of Art invited the SHISUO Design Office to unveil “The Full Moon,” a public art installation celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival. Realized in collaboration with paper-cutting inheritor Shi Qinling, the urban installation explores traditional motifs including the moon, rabbits, and classic paper-cutting techniques.
Design Concepts and Cultural Symbolism
The installation centers on traditional iconography associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival. Across global folklore, the rabbit appears frequently as a widely recognized animal figure, serving in classical Chinese autumn traditions as a companion to the moon.
According to the project’s design framework, the moon represents the cyclical nature of existence. Meanwhile, the accompanying rabbit functions as a metaphor for vitality, biological growth, and the flourishing of all living beings.
Collaboration with Traditional Artisans
SHISUO Design Office partnered directly with Shi Qinling, recognized as a Shanghai-style paper-cutting inheritor, to bridge contemporary urban architecture with intangible cultural heritage. The collaboration incorporates intricate paper-cutting methods into the large-scale public installation, translating delicate folk art into an accessible outdoor spatial experience at the Power Station of Art.
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