Visionary Reinterpretation of the Monkey King and Astro Boy
Two legendary cartoon heroes, the Monkey King and Astro Boy, have arrived in the city!
Now open at BFC Bund Financial Center, the cross-disciplinary art exhibition "Deconstruct the Past Codes Hero: the Sustainable Roads" brings together the worlds of classic animation and contemporary art in a spectacular creative dialogue led by artist Jinky Huang.
From the Chinese animation masterpiece "Havoc in Heaven" to Osamu Tezuka's "Astro Boy," these two icons share a bond spanning more than four decades.
Their friendship can be traced back to the 1980s, when Japanese master Tezuka, deeply inspired by Chinese animation, visited Shanghai and met "Havoc in Heaven"'s chief animator Yan Dingxian. The two masters co-created the now-historic illustration of the Monkey King shaking hands with Astro Boy, marking a symbolic moment of the artistic exchange. Years later, Tezuka sent another drawing of the Monkey King embracing Astro Boy to Shanghai, immortalizing their cultural connection.
Today, that legendary encounter finds new life through Jinky Huang's visionary reinterpretation. Fusing the Monkey King's mythical creativity ("72 transformations") with Astro Boy's boundless technological energy ("100,000 horsepower"), the exhibition reimagines their legacy through the lens of sustainability, innovation and human empathy.
Presented across three immersive sections, "Deconstructing Myth," "Chaotic Symbiosis" and "Mechanical Life," the exhibition spans traditional craft and futuristic media.
Visitors can explore AI-powered embroidery, interactive origami installations, and robotic light sculptures that merge heritage and high-tech artistry. Highlights include the world's largest cork Monkey King sculpture "The Blazing Future Blood of Cork" and a biodegradable installation inspired by the Peach Garden of Immortality, where sustainability takes center stage in dazzling visual form.
Dates: Through January 25, 2026,10am-9:30pm
Venue: BFC Bund Financial Center
外滩金融中心
Address: 600 Zhongshan Rd E2
中山东二路600号
Admission: 108 yuan (single)/198 yuan (double)
