This artist doesn't merely paint the world; he weaves it into existence. Through his canvases, he reveals wonders unseen, inviting us into his visionary realm.
— Painter Liu Dongzi

The mesmerizing allure of the orient, a classical beauty that shatters the frame's boundaries, compelling me to acquire his artistry.
— Reader jah

I'm utterly captivated by this album. The opening chapter, echoing Ming and Qing Dynasty embroidery and the Dunhuang murals, sets him apart from other emerging illustrators. I'm smitten; yearning for the entire collection to be in such a style. Within these pages: dragons, serpents, fish, lotus stems, blossoms, embryos, umbilical cords, the act of birth, twins...all swathed in an eerie, sumptuous ambiance, with misty waters and pulsating veins threading through.
— Reader Su Bingxiang

This art album is the most remarkable I've encountered all year.
— Reader Huanxi

In 2019, driven by both passion and profession, I immersed myself in books of Chinese supernatural lore. I started to consciously blend the language of Chinese painting into my work. By 2020, I aspired to carry forward the essence of Chinese painting’s formative language, intertwining it with contemporary fascinations. As I delved further, I found my way back to my authentic self—raw, not altogether “pretty,” and marked by complex, sometimes fearsome emotions. The release of "Phantom Play" marks the dawn of this creative epoch.

★A Douban sensation with a score of 9.1 out of 10! More than a hundred brand-new paintings re-imagine Chinese folklore: eerie, exquisite, and utterly breathtaking—every reader ends up using the same word: gorgeous.

★ The artist painted the official posters for the animated hit Big Fish & Begonia and Chen Kaige’s fantasy epic Legend of the Demon Cat. His work is featured in 100 Chinese Illustrators: A Curated Collection, has appeared in Japan’s prestigious Quarterly S, and has been shown in solo and group exhibitions from Tokyo’s GAF festival to Paris and London.

★ With nothing but watercolor, he summons demons, spirits, gods, and ghosts. Twisted forms, moody palettes, and plots that chill on second glance give classic Chinese tales a second life on paper. Fans have dubbed the book “an illustrated Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio” and crowned the artist “China’s Arch-demon Immortal.”

★ Color schemes borrow their punch from Qing-d dynasty famille-rose porcelain and Taohuawu woodblock prints, saturating every page in rich, vintage hues.

This volume showcases over a hundred artistic creations by Guo Zikai from recent times, spanning 176 pages that include 100 paintings and 15 ceramic sculptures. Among these, 74 pieces are new paintings and 10 are fresh ceramic works. The chapters of this art collection draw their names from the traditional Chinese opera, Qu, of the Yuan Dynasty, reflecting the theme of the collection, "Phantom Play."

The collection is organized into four thematic chapters: "Dongxian Ge," which offers a reinterpretation of classic Chinese supernatural stories; "Misenyin," exploring the fantasies of otherworldly beings from diverse cultures; "Shuixianzi," presenting a picture book series based on classic supernatural literature; and "Yuren Ge," featuring puppets and ceramics. The artist's style is marked by a unique blend of surreal beauty, incorporating elements of traditional Chinese painting with the ukiyo-e style, evolving into a distinctive watercolor technique.

These works transcend mere surface-level obscurity and dread, resembling dark, grown-up fairy tales that encapsulate the artist's sharp observations on reality and human nature, offering profound depth and food for thought.

Guo Zikai

Guo Zikai, pseudonym Sheep, is an alumnus of the Ceramics Department at the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute. A connoisseur of dolls and puppets, he has authored art collections entitled "Yao Huijuan" and "Narcissus." Zikai's creative prowess extends to designing posters for cinematic works such as "The New King of the Cats," "Big Fish & Begonia," and "The New Legend of Nezha." In partnership with Kappa, he has crafted shoe designs inspired by "The Legend of the White Snake" and the "Five Elements - Water" series.
His illustrations have graced the pages of Japan's professional art magazine "Quarterly S," and his work has been showcased in solo exhibitions at the Tokyo GAF Illustration Art Festival, as well as in international galleries in Paris and London. Centered on Chinese classical myths and creatures, Guo Zikai's art marries a somber elegance with traditional Chinese aesthetics, blending the fantastical and bizarre elements characteristic of Japanese ukiyo-e, earning him recognition for his unique stylistic approach.

"Ethereal Verses of Dongxian:
'A Lament for the Flesh Puppet' — Watercolor on Paper, 2020
'White Bone Orchard' — Watercolor and Colored Pencil on Paper, 2020
'Theft of Hidden Treasures' — Watercolor and Colored Pencil on Paper, 2020
'Dream Chronicles on Pillow' — Watercolor on Paper, 2020
'Fetal Eternity' — Watercolor and Colored Pencil on Paper, 2020
'Lotus Rebirth' — Watercolor and Colored Pencil on Paper, 2020
'Nirvana's Embrace' — Watercolor on Paper, 2020
'Brocade-Backed Carp Mother' — Watercolor on Paper, 2019
'Feathered Adonis' — Watercolor and Colored Pencil on Paper, 2019
'Immortal's Abode' — Watercolor on Paper, 2020
'Nine Offspring of the Heavens' — Watercolor on Paper, 2019
'Penglai, the Elusive Isle' — Watercolor and Colored Pencil on Paper, 2020
'Chaos Unveiled' — Watercolor on Paper, 2019
'Kuqin Sleeve, A Melodic Lament' — Watercolor on Paper, 2019
'Fruits of the Deities' — Watercolor on Paper, 2019
'Genesis of the Doe Mother' — Watercolor on Paper, 2021
'Python’s Playful Dance' — Watercolor on Paper, 2021
'Autumn’s Mountain Haze' — Watercolor on Paper, 2021
'Flesh Fungus, A Curious Growths' — Watercolor on Paper, 2021
'Moon Deity’s Grace' — Watercolor on Paper, 2021
'Fish Scale Prince' — Watercolor on Paper, 2021
'Midnight Ballad of the Four Seasons' — Watercolor on Paper, 2021
'Dream Banquet’s Memoir' — Watercolor on Paper, 2021
'In Praise of Lotus Picking' — Watercolor on Paper, 2020
'Verdure of Immortality' — Watercolor on Paper, 2020
'Sea’s Mysterious Garden, Act II' — Watercolor on Paper, 2020
'Sea’s Mysterious Garden, Act I' — Watercolor on Paper, 2020
'Crippled Koi's Tale' — Watercolor on Paper, 2020
'Jade Cicada’s Transcendence' — Watercolor and Colored Pencil on Paper, 2020
'Kong Xuan, Enigmatic Presence' — Watercolor and Colored Pencil on Paper, 2020

Enchanting Spirit’s Tales:
'Peachy Gaze' — Watercolor on Paper, 2018
'Spider Silk Gown' — Watercolor on Paper, 2018
'Transmutation to the Beyond' — Watercolor and Colored Pencil on Paper, 2018
'Flesh Cocoon, A Transformation' — Watercolor and Colored Pencil on Paper, 2018
'Snowy Serpent' — Watercolor on Paper, 2017
'Conjoined Avian Symphony' — Watercolor on Paper, 2017
'Grandmother’s Soothing Tune' — Watercolor and Oil Pastel on Paper, 2017
'Childhood’s Silent Tomb' — Watercolor and Colored Pencil on Paper, 2017
'Demigod’s Song' — Watercolor and Oil Pastel on Paper, 2017
'Furry Enigma' — Watercolor and Oil Pastel on Paper, 2018
'Baptism of Elements' — Watercolor on Paper, 2017
'Bittersweet Harvest' — Watercolor on Paper, 2017
'Mermaid’s Lament' — Watercolor and Colored Pencil on Paper, 2018