Alice Li
Information
I was inspired to create this series of illustrations by an exhibition I visited about the Tang Dynasty. I loved the open and tolerant social culture of the time. It was also the only time during feudal China that women were able to become officials and rulers, even ride horses into battle to lead troops and fight, and be able to participate in sports. I couldn't help but think: if women already had so many choices and even the same rights as men a thousand years ago, why not now?
The little girl in red sees the choices and life experiences of different Tang Dynasty women through one artefact after another when she visits the Tang Dynasty artefacts exhibition. They were generals who fought in battles, the only female emperor of China, a princess who held power and a musician who was skilled in dance...... Thousands of years ago, women had so many possibilities. They were able to fight and write, and they moved forward with determination and ease in their choices.