Inspired by the famous legend of the White Snake from my family’s hometown of Hangzhou, this project is an exploration of transformation. The myth follows a snake spirit who takes the form of a woman and falls in love with a mortal. Reimagining our model as the mortal form of the snake spirit, which is representative of rebirth in Chinese culture, I aim to blend the past and present into a contemporary vision. The project incorporates water elements reminiscent of Hangzhou’s misty landscapes, sleek silhouettes with textures resembling scales, and hair and makeup that reinterpret tradition through a modern perspective.
My hope for the future of art and culture is a world of intentionality, where diverse talents can come together to create and reinterpret tradition in ways we have never seen before. This project is my way of bridging past and present, honoring where we come from while shaping where we are going. In times of uncertainty, I believe we have to embrace transformation with fluidity and collaboration in order to build a better future.
TEAM CREDITS
Photographer + Creative Director: Sarah Shen
Talent: Ashley Wang
Makeup: Ashley Ysabelle
Hairstylist: Olya Romanenko
Wardrobe Stylist: Cynthia Sanchez
Photo Assistant: Robert Mayes
Sarah Shen
Photographer
Sarah Shen is a photographer based in Los Angeles, CA whose work captures modern femininity. As a first-generation Asian-American artist, she draws inspiration from the duality of her identity to create soft drama, a style that balances subtlety and power. With an eye for details and a love for the unexpected, she strives to capture the beauty and strength of her subjects. She’s passionate about collaborating with diverse talent and teams to playfully create visuals in a thoughtful, experimental way.
217 Centre Street, Floor 7
New York, NY 10013
East Coast: 212.279.2252
West Coast: 310.341.3132
Midwest: 312.735.8835
ALL VISUAL MATERIALS PRESENTED ON THIS WEBSITE ARE ORIGINAL WORKS BY THE AMP MENTEES ©2025. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THESE MATERIALS MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED, STORED IN A RETRIEVAL SYSTEM, OR TRANSMITTED IN ANY FORM OR BY ANY MEANS, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, WITHOUT THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNER.
Designed by Kristine Arth of Lobster Phone & Darnell Scott / Site Development by Bruno Tatsumi + Mariana Torres of U.I.W.D & Darnell Scott