Wizard of technology casts his spell

Wu says that he was constantly inspired by other creative team members behind the ceremonies, who are top artists in their own fields, such as Shen Chen, director of the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Paralympics, a well-established choreographer.

The experience of working with Zhang Yimou, who was the artistic director of opening and closing ceremonies of both the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and the Paralympics, also broadened Wu's vision artistically.

"Zhang is an internationally acclaimed filmmaker. He is also a great cinematographer, so he has a unique approach to visual effects," says Wu. "He always inspired us to think about things with new dimensions."

Born and raised in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu province, Wu learned to paint as a child and, in 2004, graduated from Nanjing Normal University's School of Fine Arts with a bachelor's degree. In 2007, he obtained his master's degree from the School of Animation and Digital Arts at Communication University of China. After graduation, he became a teacher of Beijing Dance Academy's School of Creative Studies.

In collaboration with Beijing Normal University, Wu has a new project, Theater of Tomorrow, which is a performing arts platform.

"Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, theaters closed and people had to enjoy theatrical productions through online platforms. We want to create a platform for both the artists and the audiences to communicate and interact," says Wu, adding that the performances on the platform will be provided both online and in person.

Technologies, such as motion capture and game engines, will be used to offer an immersive experience for the users.

"The combination of art and technology may offer a glimpse of where the industry is heading in the future," says Wu. "This idea for the project is constantly evolving, especially after working on the Beijing 2022 Paralympic ceremonies."