Dyan tai’s “NARRATIVE” single artwork (2021)
3d Animation and DesignThe album art is inspired by "The Bitten Peach," one of the most famous Ancient-Chinese queer stories from the Zhou Dynasty 200BCE. In modern times, it has become a code phrase to refer to relationships between men in China. The tale is below, paraphrased from an article from @makingqueerhistory
Duke Ling, a married man, was madly in love with his courtesan, Mizi Xia. Mizi Xia was said to be incredibly beautiful and well-loved throughout Wie, the land that the Duke ruled. When Xia's mother became ill, Xia, upon receiving the news, forged the Duke's signature to take one of the carriages. This offence was punishable by cutting off the thief's feet, but when Xia returned, the Duke didn't punish him. Instead, he praised his love's loyalty to family and willingness to face punishment to be with his mother. While walking through the garden together, Xia picked a peach and took a single bite. When he realized it was particularly sweet, he gave it to the Duke. He praised Xia, saying, "How sincere is your love for me! You forgot your appetite and thought only of giving me good things to eat!”