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GAVINOUYANG

@gavin_ouyang

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Uh Bar @uh_bar • Mulan International Film Festival @mulanfestival • Klido • FriendUp • Celestial Vault Media • Ben Mio Collection @benmiocollection

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Releasing the main visual of MulanIFF2026: A WILLFUL ILLUSION (一厢情愿, yīxiāng qíngyuàn)

Artist and Author: Gavin OUYANG @gavin_ouyang

Read the Chinese version on our website: MulanFestival.com

MulanIFF 2026 runs from Nov 21 to Dec 3 this year at @innistownhall
#mulaniff #mulaniff2026 #filmfestival

Main visual of MulanIFF2026: A WILLFUL ILLUSION (一厢情愿, yīxiāng qíngyuàn)

In Eastern philosophy, the notion of a willful illusion often stems from a profound attachment. Buddhism posits that all worldly phenomena are impermanent, and clinging to the ephemeral is often one of the fundamental roots of suffering. In the context of existentialism, Albert Camus (1913–1960) argues that humanity possesses an innate, intense desire for order, reason, and meaning in life, yet the universe does not respond to this desire. When a yearning soul collides with a silent universe, an irreconcilable sense of the “Absurd” emerges. A willful illusion is…

…precisely an instinctive, unyielding projection of meaning into the void. Perhaps an illusion itself is false, but a willful illusion is a courageous rebellion. Just as Sisyphus, fully aware that the boulder will eventually roll back down, remains lucid as he chooses, time and again, to push it toward the summit—this is not a meaningless waste of effort, but an active affirmation of his own existence. Many of humanity’s pursuits of love, art, faith, and meaning, on a broader scale, are perhaps all “willful illusions”—acts of knowingly taking up what may ultimately prove impossible.

For the Mulan International Film Festival, “willful illusion” also carries a profound autobiographical resonance. We have long been dedicated to—in the words of ZHU Yilan—discovering and stirring up a new wave where pan-Chinese filmmakers with the potential to become Tier-0 artists, or what she calls Échelon-Formidable, simultaneously put out to the sea. Even when these efforts, in the face of reality, often seem like a futile willful illusion, we nevertheless choose to continue.

If we begin with the literal composition of the Chinese phrase yī xiāng qíng yuàn (一厢情愿), translated here as “willful illusion,” we can evoke the imagery of a hidden female s by @gavin_ouyang

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18 days ago

I am thrilled to add another painting by Wu Jiaru (@wwwjjjrrr111) to my collection! This piece is part of her 2023 new_sounds_like_bird_in_Cantonese series (joining another example from the same group that was exhibited in New York). While many of her works examine raw, exposed physicality, this green bird carries a note of quiet self-appreciation and a sustained, inward gaze—marking a compelling exploration in her practice which channels the eros that dwells beneath introversion. Painted on a reflective fabric, the surface shifts dynamically; when captured with a flash, it yields a striking resonance with traditional Chinese ink wash painting. A big thank-you to Lisa Dai of gdm (@galeriedumonde) for helping me with the purchase.

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Wu Jiaru
new_sounds_like_bird_in_Cantonese_vii, 2023
Oil on reflective fabric
40 x 30 cm by @gavin_ouyang

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3 months ago

🌑

Wanda Koop (@wanda_koop)
Moonwalk No. 7, 2024
Acrylic on canvas
48 x 48 in.

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In recent years, most of the artwork I’ve created has taken shape within the square format, including the main visuals I developed for the Mulan International Film Festival. A major reason for choosing the square lies in its natural geometric inclusivity: it extends seamlessly in both horizontal and vertical directions, allowing me to adapt and apply the main visual to diverse mediums and scenarios with relative ease. Through these pieces, I’ve continually explored composition within an equal-sided canvas and its potential to expand infinitely outward. Gradually, the square has become a visual instinct—artworks in this format hold a particular magnetism for me, carrying with them a quiet sense of familiarity.

In early 2024, I created Pò (破), a space-themed main visual for Mulan (Fig. 2 and 3). Throughout the creative process, the presence of my idol, the artist Wanda Koop, frequently drifted through my mind. I found myself constantly wondering: if she were to approach this same theme, what kind of imagery might she conjure? What kind of colour language would she choose?

As it turned out, this creative contemplation ultimately wove itself into a moment of synchronicity. Along a parallel current of time, Wanda was also turning her gaze toward the vastness of the universe. This was beautifully evident in her Objects of Interest (2023) series, presented in her 2024 solo exhibition WHO OWNS THE MOON at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, and later in the many extraordinary pieces showcased in her 2025 solo exhibition Magnetic Fields at Arsenal Contemporary in New York. Among these works, I was especially captivated by her Moonwalk suite—particularly Moonwalk No. 7, with its luminous and commanding purple tones.

Purple is a colour that I, too, return to time and again in my own practice. Bringing this piece into my collection is not only a profound joy and privilege, but it also feels like a resonant echo from that synchronistic creative conversation. My sincere thanks to Night Gallery (@nightgallery), Arsenal Contemporary (@arsenalcontemporary), and Blouin Division (@blouindivision). by @gavin_ouyang

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4 months ago

by @gavin_ouyang

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6 months ago

Added a Harland Miller print to my collection!

Hz So Good, 2022
Etching with letterpress relief printing on paper, edition of 100

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#benmiocollection #harlandmiller #phaidon #artspace by @gavin_ouyang

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6 months ago

Club Gullinkambi 🍸 by @gavin_ouyang

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9 months ago

I’m thrilled to have collected a beautiful work by Kemi Onabulé from Art on a Postcard (@artonapostcard)’s final Winter Auction — the last of its kind after 11 years. This edition brought together an incredible roster of artists, with all proceeds supporting The Hepatitis C Trust as the UK moves toward eliminating hepatitis C. Honoured to be part of this closing chapter.

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Kemi Onabulé (@kemionabuleart)
Apricity, 2025
Watercolour, pigment and ink on paper
10 x 15 cm by @gavin_ouyang

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a year ago

Gavin’s 🍆 (茄闻的茄子)

This cocktail takes its inspiration from my much-beloved eggplant dish. Those who taste my eggplant tend to linger, eyes half-closed; whispers of “the best I’ve ever had” are not uncommon, while others simply make noises that imply the same. Once, a dear friend was under the weather; I presented him my eggplant, and he revived with such swiftness that felt almost indecent. Since so many seem to crave it—and I can only entertain so many invitations to “come over to my home”—I decided to capture some of its charms into a glass. A sip won’t replace the full experience of my eggplant, but as Promise would tell you, the drink feels unfamiliar, and still very, very good.

Ingredients: Pan-seared eggplants slowly coaxed into Absolut (@absolutvodka); Cocchi Americano and Vermouth di Torino Extra Dry (@cocchi1891) for a luscious body; Ancho Reyes (@anchoreyes) for a warm, peppery bite; tomato to whisper umami; freshly squeezed lemon juice for a teasing sting; and finally, black garlic tincture and a pinch of sea salt, adding depth that softly murmurs beneath the surface. by @gavin_ouyang

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a year ago

Dnipro River (第聂伯河)

To celebrate Wanda Koop (@wanda_koop)’s birthday, I created this layered drink inspired by Ukraine’s most important waterway, the Dnipro River. It is a vital artery for transport, energy, and agriculture, yet beyond its economic role, it carries deep cultural and historical significance, symbolizing the nation’s strength and unity.

The blue layer represents the river itself. A carbonated mule evoking the honey-ginger tea Wanda made for me at her studio, with Crème de Violette adding a gentle floral lift. North Spirit Distillery (@northspiritdistillery) Old Kyiv Style Vodka forms the base, while Fever-Tree Ginger Beer brings bright spice and effervescence.

The yellow layer stands for the riverbed. A high-ABV gel featuring beet and tomato—staples of Ukraine’s beloved borsch. To extract the beet’s earthy sweetness, I sous-vided golden beet in Zirkova Unity Vodka (@zirkovavodka) (100% of whose proceeds are donated to Ukraine). Yellow Chartreuse offers herbal brightness and depth, while Domaine de Canton lends a subtle ginger warmth, serving as the flavour bridge connecting the two layers.

The layering posed a technical challenge—it took meticulous trial and error to find a gelling method that achieved the desired visual effect and mouthfeel while withstanding high alcohol and acidity, without the need to heat the cocktail base to a high temperature, thus preserving the delicate flavours of the Chartreuse.

A big cheers to Promise Xu (@promise.n.x) for all his wizardry in brainstorming, research, and bringing this drink to life. And happiest of birthdays to Wanda! by @gavin_ouyang

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Acqua Alta (碧海潮生)

Gin Mare (@ginmare), Talisker 10 Year Old (@talisker), Cocchi Americano (@cocchi1891), St-Germain (@stgermaindrinks), Tomato

Mainly occurring between fall and spring, acqua alta (literally “high water”) refers to the tidal peaks of the Adriatic Sea that flood the beautiful city of Venice. On November 4, 1966, the water level rose to 194 cm above sea level—the highest ever recorded—submerging more than 80% of the city. In this cocktail, Gin Mare is infused with kombu, katsuobushi, dried scallop, and white pepper to evoke the taste of the sea. A touch of Talisker Scotch whisky amplifies its maritime character, while St-Germain lends a floral balance. Tomato, transformed into both syrup and tincture, further imparts an Italian accent. Sea grape or sea asparagus is used as the garnish. by @gavin_ouyang

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