Shadow and Light draws its inspiration from two iconic works: Masahiro Shinoda’s Himiko and Zhang Yimou’s Shadow. The project merges the powerful narrative of the legendary Japanese queen Himiko, the first recorded figure of cultural exchange between Japan and China, with the complex themes of identity explored in Shadow. Himiko, often referred to as the Sun Goddess, stands as a figure of both mystique and power, bridging cultures while embodying a unique, elusive strength. This resonates deeply with Shadow, which explores the concept of identity, its fluidity, and the complex interplay between shadow and substance.

In Shadow and Light, the themes of identity and duality are central. Just as Himiko's true nature is elusive—caught between myth and history—the film Shadow explores the tension between the self and the reflection, between the reality of one's identity and the shadow that lies in wait. This duality is represented through dramatic contrasts of light and shadow in the photography, where each frame plays with the juxtaposition of brightness and darkness to reveal and conceal, to assert and to question.

The use of light symbolizes Himiko’s sun-goddess status, radiating warmth, power, and visibility, while the shadows reflect the hidden aspects of identity—the parts of ourselves that remain elusive or unseen, just as in Shadow, where identity is not a fixed concept but something in constant flux, shaped by perception and circumstance. The play between light and shadow, inspired by the film’s visual style, creates a mysterious atmosphere, echoing Himiko's mythic status and the shifting nature of selfhood.

This project becomes a visual exploration of how identity can be both revealed and concealed, where the interplay of light and shadow reflects the complexities of the human experience. Much like Himiko’s legendary status, where truth and myth intertwine, the work challenges the viewer to question what is real and what is illusion, and to consider the fluidity of identity in both historical and contemporary contexts.