The Story of Lady Li: A Collective Story

Join us at the Heritage Museum of Asian Art on April 20, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM, for “The Story of Lady Li: A Collective Story,” an interactive workshop blending puppetry, storytelling, and collaborative sculpture. Led by artists Yiwen Wu, Coco Wenke Huang, and Yimei Emair Zhu, this event stems from a five-year creative journey, supported by the Jim Henson Foundation’s Artist Grant.

The workshop begins with a performance featuring a Bunraku-style puppet emerging from a pop-up book, followed by a participatory session where audiences collectively sculpt Lady Li using mesh fabric. The event concludes with a guided discussion, fostering reflection and engagement.

Open to ages 12 and up, this unique experience invites the community to reimagine history through art and collective storytelling.

Yiwen Wu is an artist-scholar and PhD student at the University of Chicago, specializing in Theater & Performance Studies and East Asian Languages & Civilizations. Passionate about amplifying Asian voices on stage, her work spans translations, adaptations, and new plays exploring Asian identity in contemporary America. As a playwright and director, her puppet plays include Sattva (Wuzhen Theater Festival), The Story of Lady Li (Jim Henson Foundation Grant), and Living Rock (Chicago International Puppet Festival). She has also contributed as a dramaturg to productions at Silk Road Cultural Center, Lookingglass Theatre, and TimeLine Theatre Company.

Coco Wenke Huang is a PhD student at the University of Chicago, exploring intersections of traditional Chinese medicine, ritual, and performance. With a deep passion for puppetry and toy theatre, she designed and performed in The Garden of the Phoenix (Lookingglass' 50 Wards Series) and contributed to productions at Court Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, and Token Theatre. As a dramaturg and performance-maker, she examines body-cultivation practices beyond clinical contexts, integrating movement, storytelling, and historical traditions. She has been involved with Lady Li since 2022, helping it evolve in new artistic directions.

Yimei Emair Zhu is an interdisciplinary artist whose work explores senses, posthumanism, and perspective transformation. Holding an MFA in Art and Technology Studies from SAIC, she integrates traditional and emerging media, including interactive installations, game design, and bio-art, to challenge conventional narratives. Her art seeks to redefine limitations as unique ways of experiencing the world. Yimei’s work has been exhibited internationally, including at the Hua Art Museum, Taoxichuan Museum of Art, Design Museum of Chicago, and Yeiser Art Center, pushing the boundaries of sensory engagement and technological integration in art.

More tickets available: The Story of Lady Li: A Collective Story | Heritage Museum Of A

The Heritage Museum of Asian Art's Entrance is on West 35th Street. Take the elevator to the third floor and turn right to the Museum Reception Desk. Accessible and standard toilets are located on the same floor. Free parking space is available next to the museum via West 35th Street.

If you have any programming questions, don't hesitate to get in touch with or 312-842-8884

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Heritage Museum of Asian Art, 3500 South Morgan Street, Chicago, United States