Let Good Moves Be Seen
By Lunii Sun
A Missing Stage
There was a time when every great move had a place to shine.
When Best Cardist Alive was active, countless new cardists were discovered — not because of algorithms or fame, but because someone cared enough to share their work.
Through pages like BCA or events like the Cardistry-Con Championship, entire generations of cardists found their voice, their audience, and their confidence.
The Silence After
But when those platforms disappeared, something changed.
We still see new faces here and there, but it feels harder than ever for them to be noticed.
So many talented cardists, so many brilliant ideas — lost in the noise, unseen not because they aren’t good enough, but because no one shared them.
Meanwhile, most of us keep watching new videos from the cardists we already know — even when the moves look the same, it somehow feels safer than exploring someone new.
A Shrinking Community
The entire community feels smaller now.
Even big brand videos get fewer views on YouTube, and for smaller brands or solo creators, the numbers are almost invisible.
It’s not that people stopped caring — maybe we’ve just grown used to scrolling past new faces, assuming we’ve seen it all before.
The Barrier Between Worlds
In the last few years, China’s cardistry scene has grown faster than ever — but because of political restrictions, most cardists can’t use international platforms. Without VPNs, many can only watch reuploads on Bilibili — reposts that might disappear anytime.
To fix that, I started an account called ‘Cardistry Express’, reposting and translating international videos so Chinese cardists could see what’s happening beyond the wall.
(Cardistry Express)
Now, I’m building a mirror — a “reverse” account that brings Chinese cardistry back to the world (@cardistrycn).
Because I believe good moves shouldn’t be stopped by borders, language, or politics.
Creating Opportunities
With my brand Swirl, I try to find cardists who deserve to be seen. I’ve taken 26-hour train rides just to film with someone new. I’ve gone to small towns just to film a video that could share their cardistry with more people.
Because I believe great cardistry is everywhere — it just needs someone willing to look for it. If no one gives them a chance, then I’ll create that chance myself.
I’m not the only one trying to do this. There are other accounts and projects out there also finding ways to give more cardists a chance to be seen, to make the community a little brighter.
It’s encouraging to see people still trying — proof that the spirit of cardistry is still alive, quietly growing through those who care.
The Value of Being Seen
Almost every great cardist had a moment when someone noticed them. Sometimes that single moment of being seen is all it takes to keep someone going — to remind them that what they create matters.
Maybe we can bring that feeling back.
Maybe it’s as simple as sharing a post, leaving a comment, or giving a young cardist a chance.
The community doesn’t grow by accident — it grows when we choose to see each other.
About the author, Lunii Sun:
Lunii Sun is a Chinese cardist currently studying in Tokyo. He is the founder of Swirl, also runs CardistrySpotlight and CardistryCN, community accounts that connect and showcase cardists across the world. You can find him on Instagram @lunii_ghost.
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