"BUTTERFLY LOVERS"
exhibited at Fukui Minamiaoyama (Tokyo) / Vald (New York)

"Butterfly Lovers," a short film directed by Bryn Williams, draws its essence from the timeless and tragic Chinese legend of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai—two lovers whose spirits, upon death, transform into inseparable butterflies, forever united in their ethereal embrace. This cinematic piece dives deep into the universal themes of love, loss, and the transformative power of passion, weaving these elements into a poignant narrative told through the expressive language of movement.

Dancers Ryan Appiah-Sarpong and Alfie Aves embody the roles of these star-crossed lovers, their movements painting a story of longing and surrender that transcends words. The dancers' movement is the result of devised and improvised choreography and brings the essence of the original legend to life, revealing how love can be both a source of profound beauty and unbearable pain.

Echoing the words of Oscar Wilde, "The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it," Butterfly Lovers invites viewers to consider the inevitability of desire and how it shapes our destinies.



Director: Jarno Leppänen, Ka Wa Key Chow
Videographers: Jarno Leppänen, Fabrizio Eramo, Riccardo Dal Piaz, Leo Grechen
Editing: Jarno Leppänen
Fashion & Textiles: Ka Wa Key Chow, Jarno Leppänen

Performers: Alfie Aves, Ryan Appiah-Sarpong
Artistic Consulant: Bryn Williams
Makeup and Hair: Jamie Haas, Laura Hahnel
Music: Scott Buckley
Assistant: Lin Yue

Sustainable Capsule Collection with SPINNOVA
Jewellery: Jakhu Studio