We recently connected with Caifeng Hong and have shared our conversation below.
Caifeng, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
One of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on is “Mirror,” a group project created in 2020 during my third year at The Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. This project is significant to me because it was my first experience as a costume designer and a craft and makeup designer in a production. It definitely started my interest in film and theatre, setting the foundation for my career.
“Mirror” is an immersive VR theater project where the audience can switch between watching a live performance and experiencing a virtual story using VR gear. Both storylines happen at the same time, and the audience’s choices impact how things play out. As they get more involved, they become part of the show themselves, moving between being observers and active participants in the drama.
This project came about during the pandemic when it was hard to work or enjoy entertainment. The public health crisis forced many theaters and cinemas to close, pushing people to find new ways to connect online. We wanted to explore how virtual spaces could offer a new kind of presence and create a link between virtual and real spaces, giving the audience a more interactive experience with the drama. It was really challenging both technically and design-wise. We spent six months developing the experience and collaborated with incredibly talented dancers and artists from the Bejing School of Dance. Filming the real-world and virtual scenes was particularly difficult, but it ultimately enriched the project, and the project went out super successful!
Creating a new art piece with no prior experience is really intimidating. I believe many people have gone through that same feeling—feeling terrified of losing all the time and money invested and fearing disappointment from the people who trust you. It’s challenging but essential to keep working and making progress, even when you have no certainty and don’t know how things will turn out. You have to push through simply because if you stop creating, you risk losing that spark!
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I studied undergraduate at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, majoring in Fashion Design. In the first year after graduating in 2022, I collaborated with many talented artists and was responsible for the artistic parts, accumulating some costume and scenic works. That year’s experience made me realize my interest in theatrical and film costume design.
Therefore, I applied to Carnegie Mellon University’s Costume Design program and was successfully admitted.
I am currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Costume Design at Carnegie Mellon University. I work as a costume designer, illustrator, and milliner.
I have done some Costume designs for theatre and short films, and I participated in immersive experimental designs <Mirror> <Microplastic’s Plan>, and<mirror> cicatricial location-based experience project < In Time>, and<microplastic’s invasion=”” plan=””>, I specialize in Costume design and illustrating; other than that, I worked as a millinery apprentice for the 2024 summer season at The Santa Fe Opera, and I made hats and crafts for the shows in 2024 summer season<la traviata=””>, <don giovanni=””><the elixir=”” of=”” love=””><the righteous=””>etc.</the></the></don></la></microplastic’s></mirror>
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
I always strive to work on something challenging and unpredictable, even though it can be a real pain.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
When I first started out as a designer, it felt like crossing a river with my eyes closed—and honestly, it still feels a bit like that now. I can’t say I know what is art, but I just follow my instincts and create things that make me happy and excited.
I love designing, and finding inspiration feels like waiting for rain, but I never know when it’s happening. It could take three days, or it could show up overnight—I have no control or clear idea when it’ll happen. But over the years, constantly pushing my mind has made me more sensitive and aware of the things that move me. Even the smallest, most ordinary moments can trigger a bunch of ideas and spark a chain of thoughts in my head now.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://caifengh.wixsite.com/caifeng-hong
- Instagram: ceibongyi
Image Credits
Image 2: photo by Jonny Image 6 & 7: Photo by Jonny Image 8: Photo by Yinzhe