Reflected Shadows

“Reflected Shadows” is a contemporary art exhibition inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s thought-provoking fairy tale The Shadow. In this collaboration, Danish artists Signe Emma and Benny Brankovic join forces with Chinese artists Xie Rong and Deng Xiao, as well as Danish musician and composer Thomas Knak, to explore the theme of “seeing and being seen”. The exhibition centres on identity and self-representation – a topic of particular relevance to younger generations in both China and the West.

Unfolding through a dynamic interplay of artistic expressions and cultural perspectives, the exhibition reflects on the growing influence of social media, where identity has become increasingly fluid and mutable. The works address how the existential conditions of modern life – such as vulnerability, choice, and belonging – are shaped by constant exposure and self-staging.

The five works, created specifically for this exhibition, interpret the relationship between the individual and the collective, as well as the reflection between ‘the self’ and ‘the other’. Through installations, sound, and tactile elements, a spatial narrative emerges that gives form to contemporary identity dilemmas and the social mechanisms that shape them.

The exhibition forms part of the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Denmark.

This project has been made possible with the support of the S.C. Van Foundation, the Danish Arts Foundation, the Knud Højgaard Foundation, and the Jorcks Foundation, along with sponsorships from Litecom, Kvadrat, and DALI Speakers. Special thanks to the Hans Christian Andersen House.