SHISUO Design Unveils Lunar-Themed Public Art Installation in Shanghai
Collaborative urban artwork celebrates Mid-Autumn Festival with paper-cutting traditions.
1Festival-inspired urban intervention
SHISUO Design Office created 'The Full Moon' as a temporary 20m² public art installation for Shanghai's Power Station of Art. Commissioned for the Mid-Autumn Festival, the work blends contemporary design with traditional Chinese paper-cutting techniques. The project team included lead designers Sanif and Changshan, collaborating with intangible cultural heritage inheritor Shi Qinling. The installation's completion in 2025 marks another cultural intervention by the Shanghai-based studio, following their established practice of merging architectural forms with local craftsmanship.
2Cultural symbolism in material form
The installation's central motif combines the moon and rabbit imagery deeply rooted in Chinese folklore. Paper-cutting artist Shi Qinling contributed traditional Shanghai-style techniques to realize these symbolic elements. In Chinese mythology, the moon represents cyclical existence while rabbits symbolize vitality and growth. The collaboration represents a deliberate effort to preserve intangible cultural heritage through contemporary design interventions, with the Power Station of Art serving as both commissioner and exhibition venue for this temporary structure.
3Multi-disciplinary execution
Shanghai Sun Exhibition Services managed construction with a team of 12 specialists including project managers Zhang Ying and Yue Jianping. The design team comprised Lin Zihan and Zhang Yich, working under SHISUO's creative direction. This organizational structure allowed efficient realization of the complex paper-cutting integration within the tight festival timeline. The project demonstrates how traditional craft practices can be scaled for public art through professional construction management and clear role specialization among designers, artists, and builders.
4Materializing intangible heritage
The collaboration with Xuhui Fenglin paper-cutting inheritor Shi Qinling represents a strategic approach to cultural preservation. By translating delicate paper art into durable public installation, the team created new visibility for this heritage craft. The project's documentation by photographer Jianyuan Ye further extends its cultural impact beyond the physical site. This methodology shows how temporary installations can achieve lasting influence through digital archiving and institutional partnerships with venues like PSA.
5Urban context integration
Situated in Shanghai's Power Station of Art, the installation engages with the city's contemporary art scene while honoring local traditions. The choice of location connects the work to Shanghai's identity as both global metropolis and preserver of regional customs. At 20m², the structure's modest scale creates intimate viewer engagement despite its public setting. This balance reflects SHISUO's signature approach to site-specific works that respect urban scale while making strong visual statements.
6Design process insights
The project reveals SHISUO's working method of pairing designers with specialist artisans early in the creative process. Paper-cutting elements weren't applied as surface decoration but integrated structurally from initial concepts. This co-creation approach required extensive prototyping to adapt delicate 2D techniques to 3D installation requirements. The successful resolution demonstrates how traditional craft constraints can inspire innovative structural solutions when treated as equal design partners rather than decorative afterthoughts.
7Cultural programming strategy
Timed for the 2025 Mid-Autumn Festival, the installation exemplifies how cultural institutions like PSA use temporary works to activate public spaces seasonally. The festival context provided natural audience engagement while allowing experimental material treatments that might be unsustainable in permanent works. This programming model creates opportunities for emerging studios like SHISUO to undertake ambitious material research with institutional support, while delivering high-impact visitor experiences within constrained budgets.
8Legacy of ephemeral interventions
Though temporary, 'The Full Moon' establishes important precedents for cultural preservation through design. It demonstrates how heritage crafts can find new relevance when adapted to contemporary formats and scales. The project's documentation in international architecture media extends its influence beyond physical lifespan, potentially inspiring similar collaborations. For SHISUO, it reinforces their position as innovators bridging architectural design and traditional Chinese craft disciplines.