Hazel Hong’s Moon Palace

Hey! I’m Hazel Hong, an International Artist, Writer, and Wildlife Protector. Since the age of 16, I’ve been uncovering my life mission: the power of art to support others build or rebuild those beautiful connections, especially the ones with their inner selves and with the natural world.

An objective introduction is elusive—especially when Objectivity itself is a myth. Perhaps three perspectives can offer a fuller picture:

If I am the sum of my life’s journey, then I would tell you this: I am a daughter of the sea, filled with youthful misinterpretations of the world. I am an awakening girl who broke free from numbness through pain. I am a Beijing Volunteer who gradually become a real ‘aspiring youth’ through more than 50 public service projects. I am a New York Warrior, bravely shaking hands with the world. With reverence for the inevitability of death, I choose to move forward with purpose, quietly recording the serendipities of life.

If I am the average of the lives I’ve encountered, then I would tell you this: I am somewhere between femininity and masculinity, between one and one hundred years old, between a Chinese and a citizen of the world. I am between the wolf under the moon and the Bird above the Waves, between the galloping horse in the snow and the puppy cradled in my arms, between the Peacock gracing the Valley and the Sea Turtle in the Aquarium. I am fluid. I am evolving. I am ever-changing.

If I am the inevitable result of what I’ve learned and practiced, then I would tell you this: From 2002 to 2016, after my talent for dance was discovered, I grew from a baby-dancer to a professional dancer. In 2017, a twist of fate led me a bachelor’s degree in Drama Direction and Theater Education at the Central Academy of Drama, where I graduated in 2022. In 2023, I chose to pursue the cutting-edge philosophy of human and non-human animal relations abroad, which brought me to NYU and New York City, where I remain today. Along the way, people were often surprised by my frequent ‘missteps.’

Now, as I approach my master’s graduation, people worry whether I can sustain myself as an independent artist committed to continuous interdisciplinary learning—but I feel I have no choice. Perhaps it is because I have never forgotten my mission, surrendered my freedom, or ceased to be curious about the world and its possibilities—or because no single discipline can fully satisfy my hunger for inspiration to emerge.

You can, of course, learn about me through the world’s descriptions—so far, no bad reviews (yet). But you know how it goes: opinions change like the wind. If you really want to get to know me, why not Drop me a Message?

Oh yes! About the Space—my Moon Palace. To me, the moon is a symbol of the inner world, nature, and wisdom. As a teenager, I named my study ‘月镜斋’ (Moon Palace) and called myself the ‘Master of Moon Palace,’ inspired by the words: ‘明月若非知我心，何以皎皎如凝镜’ (‘If the bright moon does not know my heart, how could it shine so purely, like a mirror?’). These words have long been a source of encouragement and self-reflection for me. Today, Moon Palace is no longer just a study—it is the name of my artistic space. It carries a message: to bare our truest selves under the moonlight, to embrace the courage of self-examination, to grow in self-compassion, and to learn the art of self-healing.

I will be gradually updating my past works and ongoing projects here since today – 2025.01.03. Please feel free to follow along and share your thoughts with me—I’d love to hear from you(Replies not guaranteed, but I’ll try my best)!

Lunar blessings,

Hazel Hong

2025.01.03