Guo Zikai

Sichuan Fine Arts Institute ceramics graduate Guo Zikai, pen name Sheep (b.1989), draws Chinese painting toward ukiyo-e until the two share a line. Yaohui Juan in 2012, then film posters, then Zhang Henshui’s White Snake as a 2024 illustrated book. Creation and creator, he says, are not two jobs.

His published works include Yaohui Juan (妖绘卷), Shuixian (水仙), and Huanxi (幻戏). His breakthrough came in 2012 with Yaohui Juan, created during his senior year, a collection that reimagines the magnificent strangeness of ancient Eastern mythology. The work is distinguished by grand compositions, delicate brushwork, and flowing, ornate linework, with bold, vivid colours and striking contrasts achieved through layered applications that merge seamlessly with paper textures.

Guo has crafted iconic film posters for Big Fish & Begonia (大鱼海棠), Legend of the Demon Cat (妖猫传), Monster Hunt 2 (捉妖记2), and Red Sorghum (红高粱). In 2024 he published an illustrated edition of Zhang Henshui’s Legend of the White Snake (白蛇传), featuring fifty illustrations that received widespread acclaim.

His art has travelled internationally, appearing at Japan Expo in Paris, MCM Expo in London, and Scotland Loves Animation in Edinburgh, while his 2025 Tokyo solo exhibition Mermaid Dream (人鱼梦) marked a significant milestone. He has also published in Japan’s professional illustration magazine Quarterly S (季刊S).

At the heart of his philosophy lies the conviction that creation and the creator are inseparable, and that works gain true power only when the artist has grown and found something genuine to express. He continues to seek 'new life' in his art, producing images that transcend language and logic yet resonate deeply with viewers.