Lulla Gao
Sun's Empress
Class of: 2029
Major: Fashion Design BFA
Medium: Mixed Media: Wire, Yarn, Spray Paint, Jewelry
Faculty: Aviva Maya Shulem
Prompt: This project explores the cultural, historical, and aesthetic meanings of masks in ancient civilizations. Through research into culture, beauty, and performance traditions, the goal is to create a mood board and design proposal that translates the findings into the concept for a 3D mask. The aim is to understand how cultural values shape beauty and symbolism, and to reinterpret these ideas through contemporary design practice.
Inspired by ancient Chinese culture, my headpiece blends elements from the fengguan crowns and Peking Opera masks of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Red and gold symbolize vitality and good fortune, while magnolias (the official flower of my hometown, Shanghai) add a layer of personal touch from my own Chinese background. The dramatic silhouette reflects traditional opera forms, and the hanging details draw from Han dynasty jewelry. This piece reinterprets symbols across dynasties into a contemporary design that honors the evolution of Chinese beauty and heritage.