World Expo Museum × Zhizhong Chen
“The Greeks: From Agamemnon to Alexander” Exhibition Merchandise Project
2025 | China | Packaging & Illustration & Cultural Product
Concept • Illustration • Cultural Collaboration • Commission
In collaboration with the World Expo Museum, Shanghai, Zhizhong Chen was commissioned to create an original illustration for the exhibition “The Greeks: From Agamemnon to Alexander”, developed for the museum’s cultural merchandise collection.
The exhibition presents over 270 artifacts from 14 Greek museums and institutions, tracing the evolution of ancient Greek civilization from the Neolithic period to the Hellenistic era. Within this historical framework, the commissioned artwork extends the exhibition narrative beyond the gallery, translating cultural and historical knowledge into a contemporary visual form
Through this project, illustration functions as a bridge between ancient civilizations and present-day audiences, activating historical memory through accessible, everyday objects.

ABOUT THIS WORK
Zhizhong Chen’s work draws from the visual and symbolic language of ancient Greek civilization, integrating mythological figures, classical motifs, and architectural elements into a cohesive composition. Rather than direct representation, the artist reconstructs these references through a contemporary illustrative approach, creating a layered narrative that moves between history and imagination.
Guided by a practice of formal refinement and perceptual translation, Zhizhong distills complex historical imagery into a structured yet expressive visual system. His use of controlled composition and ornamental detail allows disparate elements to coexist within a unified field, balancing clarity with richness.
Applied to museum merchandise, particularly those centered on Athena and classical themes, the work extends the exhibition experience into a tactile and distributable format. It invites viewers to engage with ancient Greek culture not only through observation, but through everyday interaction—where illustration becomes a living continuation of historical storytelling.


ABOUT ARTIST
Zhizhong Chen
Zhizhong Chen is an illustrator based in China and a graduate of South China Normal University Open College. His practice centers on capturing fleeting perceptual experiences and translating them into refined visual compositions through deliberate formal reconstruction.
Drawing from everyday objects and transient moments, Zhizhong develops a distinctive visual language that balances intuitive expression with structural clarity. His work distills ephemeral sensations into tangible imagery, combining sensitivity with precision to convey subtle emotional and aesthetic nuances.
His clients include CHAGEE, Coca-Cola, Lenovo, the British Museum, CITIC Press Group, and Dunhuang Museum. His work has received multiple international recognitions, including awards from the CIB Illustration Competition, 3×3 International Illustration Awards, and Hiii Illustration International Competition.
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