The theme of this shoot is 'Press Any Key to Start', with the overall concept revolving around butterfly personification and Chinese-style horror. After receiving the concept, I kept pondering how to blend Grotesque aesthetics seamlessly with Guofeng Hanfu. In the end, we settled on this visually striking styling for this Chu Li cosplay project.
In terms of wardrobe, we selected an oversized dark-green sheer tulle cape as outerwear over a lustrous deep-red gown with an inner white lace-up tie design. The clash of colors under studio lighting creates rich dimensional layering. The floral coronet on my head was remarkably heavy, piled high with faux flowers and butterflies across red, orange, yellow, and blue hues; paired with a beaded veil across the face and crimson eye makeup, it created an aura of captivity and subtle bewilderment. To amplify the theme, an immense glowing pink-purple butterfly prop was placed before me.
Set design was undoubtedly the soul of this photoshoot. In a low-key dark studio, we strung up fluorescent green LED light strands woven into an expansive web. Scattered around were vintage picture frames, scrolls, multicolored floral arrangements, and a green parasol. This grotesque lighting and set construction filled the entire scene with an eerie, surreal atmosphere. During shooting, I had to envision myself as Chu Li, the butterfly personification character trapped within a game world—keeping body movements restrained while maintaining a gaze of cool detachment.
To harmonize with the sheer translucency of the veil, I strove to convey emotion through my eyes when posing. For example, crossing both hands over my chest and turning slightly sideways allowed the green light to brush against the edge of the cape, creating a shadowy, eerie reflection. The giant butterfly prop carried intense presence before the lens; I needed to locate the ideal angle of light and shadow so it appeared as an organic extension of my body. The gaffer was exceptionally meticulous with lighting, setting up a sharp hue contrast between the chilly green ambient glow and the warm red blossoms and attire.
Special thanks to Master Sijunzi for photography and set design, as well as Master Yanmo for post-processing. This photo set beautifully captures the dynamic tension we envisioned between peak Guofeng Hanfu romanticism and eerie thriller aesthetics. Although the shooting process was intricate and bearing the heavy floral crown was demanding, seeing the finalized images made every effort completely worthwhile. I hope this butterfly personification and Chu Li cosplay imbued with deep Chinese-style horror and Grotesque aesthetics brings everyone a refreshingly distinct visual experience.