In Existential Emptiness, Cui invites viewers inside her psyche, placing her model, accompanied by an identical doll, in the monochromatic, barren landscapes of her homeland. The stark minimalism reflects her introspection into identity and explores existential dualities. Now matured into a young adult, the figures navigate the “Ice City” of Harbin, a powerful metaphor for isolation and inquiry. The muted palette emphasizes their separation from the surroundings, creating a contemplative space to confront binaries such as fragility and strength, body and soul, and life and death.