Shadow Life, Cao’s most recent video, is an adaptation of traditional Chinese shadow puppetry. During the Song Dynasty (960 – 1279 CE), performances known as “large shadow shows” featured actors hidden behind the screen instead of puppets. The intricate hand puppets animating Shadow Life merge these traditional art forms to tell a distinctly contemporary story of modern China.
More info: http://www.arthousetexas.org/article/cao-fei/