Shanyun Hu is an independent artist based in Philadelphia, with a background in Landscape Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania. Her artistic practice explores the intersection of anthropology, East Asian culture, and the human relationship with extreme environments. Deeply inspired by the Sherpa people, Shanyun’s recent work reflects on their mountaineering traditions and spiritual connection to the Himalayas.

This piece honors the Sherpa’s resilience and reverence for nature, drawing from their lived experiences in the high mountains and their cultural relationship with landscape and survival. Through layered visual narratives, she reinterprets traditional highland motifs and explores themes of memory, identity, and endurance shaped by geography and belief.

Shanyun’s work often blends spatial awareness with cultural storytelling, creating immersive experiences that highlight the strength of indigenous perspectives. Her practice emphasizes how ritual, nature, and human spirit are intertwined, resonating with the exhibition’s theme of humanity’s evolving connection with the environment.