Fissure of a Sweetdream
2022-2023

_{This project follows a group of young romantics who have chosen to escape the intensity of city life for Wanning, Hainan Province, a place known for its surfing culture and natural beauty. Drawn by the promise of a simpler, nature-oriented lifestyle, many young people have come here to seek refuge from the pressures of urban existence. During my time in Wanning, I documented both their daily lives and the surrounding landscapes, capturing the parallel reality they constructed as a sanctuary from modern society.

Wanning seems to offer a spiritual refuge, allowing these individuals to disconnect from societal demands and immerse themselves in the “oceanic feeling” Romain Rolland described— a freedom as boundless as the sea. Here, they follow the natural rhythms of the sun, moon, and tides, crafting a lifestyle that leaves a deep imprint on their spirits, like seaweed clinging to their identities. This environment shapes their personalities, seemingly as lasting and organic as dye soaking into cloth.

However, as I continued, I began to notice fissures within this seemingly perfect escape—a subtle fracture in the freedom they had found. It made me question whether such an idealized retreat could truly shield them from the pervasive influence of modern life. My images aim to capture both the beauty and the delicate fragility of this lifestyle, revealing the balance between seeking refuge and the quiet vulnerabilities that accompany any attempt at escape.

这个项目记录了一群年轻浪漫主义者，他们选择逃离城市生活的压力，来到了海南省的万宁——一个以冲浪文化和自然美景著称的地方。许多年轻人被这里的简单、贴近自然的生活方式所吸引，视之为从都市压力中逃离的避难所。在万宁生活的这段时间里，我记录了他们的日常生活和周围的自然景观，捕捉到他们在现代社会之外构建的平行现实。

万宁似乎提供了一种精神上的庇护，让这些人能够脱离社会的压力，沉浸在罗曼·罗兰所描述的“海洋般的感觉”中——一种如海洋般广阔的自由。在这里，他们顺应日月潮汐的自然节奏，塑造出一种生活方式，这种生活方式深深地印刻在他们的精神之中，仿佛海藻附着在他们的身份之上。这样的环境塑造了他们的个性，就像染料浸透在织物中一样，显得自然而持久。

然而，随着时间的推移，我开始注意到这片理想化逃避中的“裂缝”——一种自由中的细微裂隙。这让我开始质疑，这样的理想化避难是否真能完全隔绝现代生活的广泛影响。我的影像试图捕捉这种生活方式的美丽和脆弱，展现出在寻求庇护与面对任何逃避中隐含的脆弱性之间微妙的平衡。}