Rivers Reflect the Stars

Anika Rios and Cindy Qiu

Animation, 2025

Anika Rios and Cindy Qiu explore the physical and conceptual act of going beyond what humanity currently knows must exist. Through animation, a medium that brings visual depth to storytelling, the artists transform into characters who unexpectedly crash onto a planet that feels both familiar and alien. Color plays a central role in showcasing the contrasts between our world and this new one. The alien planet symbolizes the bizarre nature of what lies beyond. As they navigate this uncharted realm, they reflect on how we, too, are alien to the outside world, just as it is alien to us.