The Paradox of the Fantasy and the Real Life

Can art change one’s life? Someone may think an artist’s life can be changed as long as one of his/her paintings is evaluated as a priceless blockbuster. But, can art change an ordinary person’s life? Don’t apply your rational-logical-critical thinking or pop out your limited personal experience to answer this question spontaneously either. What’s the connection between a vibrant fantasy and a dull life? I caught a spark of inspiration in Jung Yeondoo’s impressive photography series, Bewitched, at the Asian Art Museum in Seattle last year. Jung Yeondoo is a Korean contemporary artist and a visual-producing storyteller.  
How hilarious it was? That was my initial impression when I had my first glance on Jung Yeondoo’s No. 21 work. A few seconds passed, I stopped laughing and pondered the story behind these two images. A college student, the artist doesn’t mention his name or where he is from, is standing in the middle as an appealing focus of these two strong contrasting images.
In the left image, he wears a graphic design T-shirt and a floral pair of shaggy beach shorts. His trendy thick curly hairdo, his black-rimmed glasses, and his laid-back posture reflect a popularized k-style college student. His unperceived ironic smile and unselfconscious perky expression in his eyes are likely to convey “Hey, I am intelligent, and a trend-setter in our dorm. Girls should hit on me, not my needy roommates.” But the real life is revealed that his lonely figure is surrounded by two computer-geek happy couples and scattered smelly sneakers on the floor. He doesn't have a girlfriend.  This is his tense reality the young college student has to deal with.
So I guess when Jung Yeondoo asked him,” What do you want for your dream life?” his answer was probably pretty girls. So, the right image was created based on their conversation. In this fancy lustering image, the young man is definitely the shimmering focus of all girls’ attention. He is confidently standing in the middle in a bath pool covered by fresh fragrant colorful petals. His semi-nude slim body and the messy wet hair don't scare girls away. In contrast, five nice-looking girls, lilies in their hair and wearing the same gowns, crave to serve and please him. I can see his enjoyment and satisfaction from his enchanting eyes and radiant face. This image reminds me a picture of an emperor’s luxurious life, living in a golden palace with his 3,000 exclusive concubines in the feudal period.  But, the problem comes along with his being torn by excessive girls. Who cares? He wants to be in that alluring situation. This is his fantasy the artist has woven it for him.
The soothing beauty of idealistic and realistic paradox is the story behind arts. So far, Jung Yeondoo has traveled to fourteen countries to discover his subjects. His art not only narrates subjects’ stories in images, but also depicts humanity, reflecting our dull life, our unspeakable visions, our persistent longings and hopes. I don’t think the young student is the only person who is struggling with his lonely single life. Everyone has his/her own dream to dive into. This duplicated dream offers me a temporary peaceful moment to dig out my own fantasy, to be a super girl with magic power to modify the brutal world. 

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