Belly of The Giant Serpent: Prophecy
Photographer Chen Chuanduan crafted this fictional documentary, blending elements of fiction and the supernatural. Through AI-generated images and paranormal stories, he conveys both personal and collective trauma. Chen combines text-to-image AI creations with real-world images and his own photography, seamlessly merging reality with imagination.
Photography Chen Chuanduan / 陳川端
This collection documents an unexpected journey during my travels, in a place called Norgris Town, where I spent the final days of winter. The Daltons, who have three children, graciously took me in. However, it was the peculiar pre-dinner prayer that piqued my curiosity. After expressing gratitude for trees, crops, and all animals, people would conclude it with a phrase – “The world lies within the belly of a giant serpent.”
Retired teacher Patrick shared with me the town's history. Back in the 1990s, a meteorite fell in Norgris, bearing scales like a snake. Children who touched it were believed to be protected from illness and danger. Patrick strongly believed that the origin of the universe followed a similar pattern: dust coalesced into the shape of a serpent, then curled up to form planets, giving birth to life and civilisations.
"This is the most anticipated time of the year," Mrs. Dalton told me. "The weather will become warm, and miracles will happen during these days of the ceremony. The children will gather around their mothers."
Back in the 1990s, a meteorite fell in the town, and it had snake-like scales and something resembling a mouth and a heart. When touched, it felt warm. On the same night, a mother was born with his eyes wide open, with pupils just a snakes, bright and sharp.
The priest in Norgris would conduct a ceremony before spring arrived, and during those days, supernatural occurrences blurred the lines of my memory. These included seeing indistinct faces outside my window, experiencing intense physical pain, and dreaming of being covered in scales from head to toe.
I no longer have the opportunity to return to Norgris, or perhaps Norgris does not exist. Within the belly of the giant serpent is a digestive fluid. For a certain period, I see the world enclosed, immersed within unquestionable walls.
“The world lies within the belly of a giant serpent.”
About Chen
Chen Chuanduan (born 1994) uses imagery as a medium, beginning with documentary works rooted in personal emotions and experiences. He focuses on the connection between humans and nature and the cries of modern life. He is fascinated by natural science and supernatural phenomena, with a particular penchant for imaginary and fictional elements.
To see more of his work, visit his website or follow him on Instagram
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