She dreamed of becoming a filmmaker when she was studying at the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts. However, her first film Imbalance 257 focusing on graduates in 1999 gained her international recognition at a show in Spain, leading her to begin an art career.

"When I produce a film, I'm not influenced by the market. I can use all kinds of art mediums to provide comprehensive and immersive works for the audience," says Cao on her choice to become an artist instead of a filmmaker.

In her latest project HX, Cao built a space to showcase the history of a vanishing community in Beijing, where the first computer in China was produced. The project includes historical material, films, books, installations, and VR and AR works.

"I've done works to capture the current shifts and imagine the future," she says. "It's time to look backward into history."