TENG SHEN

Barbarian

This project presents a surreal narrative of the “urban barbarian” — individuals who live on the fringes of society, unable or unwilling to fully assimilate into social norms, retaining an instinctual, animalistic existence. Inspired by a futuristic allegory where giant rats reclaim the city, the work blurs the boundaries between reality and illusion. Echoing Zhuangzi’s butterfly dream, it questions the nature of consciousness and identity. Through visual metaphors, this series probes the tension between isolation and survival in an urban jungle.