New fantasy series gets inspirations from Dunhuang murals

The Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang have long been considered a treasure trove of cultural and artistic heritage. The murals adorning the walls of the grottoes have captivated viewers for centuries and continue to inspire contemporary works to this day.

One of the latest examples is Till the End of the Moon, a fantasy series which features many elements inspired by the aesthetics of Dunhuang. The series started streaming on Youku on April 6 and is adapted from a popular online novel, fictionalizing the bittersweet love between a celestial being and a demon ruler, played by actress Bai Lu and actor Luo Yunxi.

According to Ruan Hexin, the art director, the crew spent nine months bringing the fantastic world to life by decorating 12 sound stages covering an overall area of nearly 50,000 square meters, as well as tailoring a total of 30,000 props.

To seek inspiration, the creators traveled to some iconic attractions in Dunhuang and Zhangye in Gansu province, obtaining the inspiration to use black and grayish blue, the major hues in most Dunhuang murals, for the demon king's costumes. Besides, the costumes of the celestial being took inspiration from the murals of flying deities, which are majorly painted with the colors of straw yellow, bamboo yellow, and emerald blue.