The Doll Kiln / The Doll Kiln
Wenwen Zhu
United States / 2025 / 12' 41''Screenings
Cinema SC, 15:30 h
Cinema SC, 17:30 h
Synopsis
In a world suspended between dreams and reality, toys tirelessly repeat their mechanical tasks. Many choose to replace their arms with human ones in the relentless pursuit of efficiency, yet every decision seems to be toward an unknown destiny. A toy bear, unexpectedly delivered to this enigmatic village, begins to observe its peculiar rhythms and gradually uncovers the hidden rules and lurking dangers beneath the surface.
Wenwen Zhu is an animator and illustrator whose work spans drawings, 3D animation, video, and multimedia installations, rich with poetic meaning and analogy. Her art engages visual impact through playful compositions, surreal human forms, and immersive 3D simulations. She explores the fluid relationship between the body, environment, and technology, investigating how these forces reshape our understanding of self, nature, and society. Her work invites viewers to reconsider everyday life through the lens of physical and digital interactions, offering a reflection on how these elements shape our experience of the world.
Director
Wenwen Zhu
Production
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Sound
Cyrus Snow Spurlock
Animation
Wenwen Zhu
categories
STUDENT FILM COMPETITION 4