Sparkling HallucinationPart1  2023
Sparkling hallucination is a series of photos based on the cultural colonization of East Asia by Korean Wave culture. My motivation for taking the photos comes from my experience of being a groupie since I was a child. In this process , I watched a lot of Korean variety shows and idol MVs, and bought idol albums and merch. It had a huge impact on me during my adolescence when I could only wear ugly school uniforms every day. In the repressive education environment in East Asia,  idol worship seems like a gentle and reasonable outlet for venting. The idols’ glamorous appearance, exquisite video images, and exciting emotions in the songs gave me a huge fantasy about living a repetitive life day after day. Hallyu Everything is like a huge playground, where we can "rest" just by relying on electronic screens. Imitating the outfits of Korean idols, imitating how they speak, and listening to songs and dancing with my friends can help me get closer to them. At the same time, their dressing style and appearance are more in line with my aesthetic habits.
In this project, I created a fictional image of a kpop fan in my dreams based on my own starstruck experience. She will imitate the makeup of popular idols of different eras in her life, and use her outfits to reflect her current emotional state and attitude towards life. Or she may imagine herself as an idol who has already debuted in her own room, she will Imitate their singing, dancing, selfies, and interviews. A series of room decorations such as small lamps on the wall, pink walls, a large number of posters, dolls on the shelves, etc. are all images often constructed in kpop mv.





As a millennial, we have seen this in European and American movies since childhood. The image of a girl's room, most of the youth in movies and TV shows are free, rebellious, and full of vitality, encouraging people to find their true self in confusion. Hallyu culture cleverly uses this to find commonalities in different cultural backgrounds, and builds a comfort zone of visual culture, allowing the audience to be better attracted and accept Korean culture, and subtly changes "I". And this change can also be seen as a desire that cannot be satisfied in youth. Her behavior and dress in the photos are all projections of fantasy desires. The reality is still repressed and repetitive, but in this world that belongs to her In this space, she can escape reality and make everything in her mind come true.
Sparkling HallucinationPart2  2024
In K-pop culture, idols are crafted into flawless personas, but this illusion of perfection often distances them from their real selves. Entertainment companies enhance this “illusion” through digital media, filters, beauty editing, and virtual reality technologies.

While chasing a “perfect image,” idols gradually lose their sense of humanity. This illusionary beauty often exacerbates people’s anxiety about their appearance and confusion about their own identity. Their lives are packaged as dazzling dreams, but behind the scenes, idols pay a heavy price in time, energy, and even self-sacrifice. Nearly every year, we hear of idols committing suicide due to unbearable pressure, and many more suffer from mental health issues caused by the industry. Of course, they also gain immense love and wealth through this profession.

But is the love they receive truly directed at the real individuals behind the idols? Do they love or despise this affection? In this process, “illusion” and “sacrifice” coexist. Fans project their emotions and dreams onto the idol’s image. In K-pop culture, idols are not just entertainment symbols; they also serve as a medium for fans to construct their ideal selves. Through fan support, chart boosting, and creative content (such as fan-taken photos or fanfiction), idols become infinitely idealized.

When I was young, I dreamed of one day being as beautiful and happy as the people in music videos. Now, as I struggle to find myself in a messy reality, fandom remains my harbor of fantasy.





The essence of being a fan isn’t just about loving idols; it’s a way of connecting with myself. Through their brilliance, I search for my own answers. Although these answers may be unclear, they give me the courage to face life again. It’s not about giving up on myself but about making a complex psychological choice—to weave a comforting layer of fantasy in a reality I can’t completely change.



home