The Deity Yet to Be Seen

"The Deity Yet to Be Seen is a re-enactment of the ancient Chinese tale ‘The White and Green Serpent’ (《白蛇传》). The film traces a serpent spirit through its transformative states of gender and identity, evolving from a formless being to a man, woman, both, and neither. It oscillates between spirit, monster, human, and an unseen deity. Shimmering images challenge omniscient perspectives with ambiguity, offering an alternative queer narrative construction.
Reflecting on the media’s surgical-like scrutiny of transgender identities, the project critiques trans visibility’s dual role as essential yet perilous in shaping perceptions. The film uses lens flare as a visual tool to express the concept of disidentification central to queer theory. The concept involves neither fully accepting nor rejecting an identity but strategically engaging with cultural norms."