Arts corner: Childhood mythicized

AAROHI DEVASHALE

Graduate student, illustration

“This is the beginning of an old story: Once upon a time, a happy clever monkey lived in a tree that bore juicy, red rose apples. One fine day, a crocodile swam up to that tree and told the monkey that he had traveled a long distance and was very hungry. The kind monkey offered him a few rose apples. The crocodile returned again and again and the monkey was always happy to share. They soon became unlikely friends.”

FANGYU MA

Graduate student, ilIustration

“In ancient Chinese myths and legends, Kunlun Mountain is the residence of gods, the capital of the Heavenly Emperor. The water under it can’t float feathers and the trees around it are immortal and sacred. It has nine gates and a nine-headed, enlightened beast as its gatekeeper. The beast, Kaiming Shou, stands facing East, while each of its heads keeps an eye on a different direction.”