Xiyan Chen

Between the Tides explores the symbolism of water as an archetypal element and its connection to my fluid identity shaped by cultural transitions. I drew particular inspirations from locations that are significant to my personal narrative, where each body of water represents not just a geographical marker, but a repository of memories and experiences that have contributed to my evolving sense of self.

This editorial project investigates the extraordinary journey of Atlantis from Plato’s philosophical allegory to one of history’s most enduring cultural phenomena. Through four visually illustrative chapters, the book traces how a fictional civilisation described in Ancient Greece has evolved into a powerful cultural symbol that has influenced exploration, science, spirituality, and popular culture across millennia.

Once Upon A Time is a short animation that traces the evolution of timekeeping signals from ancient natural rhythms to digital precision, exploring how humanity’s relationship with time has fundamentally transformed. Beginning with celestial markers like moon phases and sundials, the piece chronicles the journey through medieval innovations such as hourglasses and church bells, the industrial revolution’s railway clocks and standardised time zones, culminating in today’s digital displays and personal electronic reminders.