Generation Z Artists

Chapter 179 Ban?

"Fang Xinghe has taken Shibuya-style fashion to a new level."

—ViVi

As a pillar fashion magazine targeting young women, ViVi is a major driving force behind the Shibuya style. Known for its bold colors and its promotion of the "gyaru" (gal) style, it is a core publication in Japanese fashion today.

On July 18, ViVi magazine featured Fang Xinghe on its cover and devoted four full pages to describing in detail the extraordinary aspects of his life as a "born to sing wildly".

Women's magazine, men's cover, this is worship.

The article praised Fang Xinghe's sense of style and interpretive ability, publicly endorsing him as "the new king of the fashion world".

However, its obsequiousness was ridiculed mercilessly by its superiors the very next day.

"Fang Xinghe almost destroyed the so-called Shibuya fashion, that kind of rebellion that only stays on the surface, the avant-garde for the sake of being avant-garde, the glaring colors that lack aesthetics, which is the very thing that Shibuya is most proud of, but it was completely crushed by [Born to be a Madman].

What right do you have to ride on Prince Fang Xinghe's coattails?

Tanned skin, multicolored afros, exaggerated smoky makeup, pink stockings and crop tops, huge cheap earrings and necklaces... all of these are simply due to poor aesthetic sense.

Lacking aesthetic sense but wanting to attract attention, they can only resort to making themselves look ugly.

Who's trying to promote your fashion? His Highness Fang Xinghe is clean-cut and has his own unique style... In short, don't get involved.

—CanCam

"Don't get involved" is a simple summary; the original text was actually a very strong rebuke.

CanCam is a representative of the sweet office lady style in the Japanese fashion world, advocating feminine dressing and is the bible of young Japanese women at this time.

Two women's fashion magazines suddenly started fighting.

ViVi: "Fang Xinghe's many photos are an extension of the Shibuya style, such as 'Crazy Blood,' blah blah blah..."

CanCam: "Madness and blood is a morbid yet crystal-clear dark beauty, while your so-called fashion is only black."

Sweet girl VS hot girl, the sweet girl wins easily.

Yuri Ebihara, a phenomenal model, has not yet signed an exclusive modeling contract with CanCam, but she is a typical example of someone who transitioned from a glamorous sexy style to an elegant sexy style.

She publicly professed her love for Fang Xinghe in the latest issue of CanCam:

"Your Highness Fang Xinghe has given me a new understanding of beauty."

Exaggerated styling should serve the character and theme, mastering the background, clothing, and makeup to create pure imagery beauty—that's truly remarkable.

I'm absolutely obsessed with him right now. I'd do anything for him. My biggest dream is to take a set of photos with him. If I could touch his skin, I think I'd go crazy..."

Her statement didn't really grasp the key point; it was just a dream girl gushing over a crush, which does represent the true feelings of some Japanese concubines.

But it was supermodels like Ai Tominaga and Devon Aoki who truly defined the controversy.

Ai Tominaga is a woman that Fang Xinghe also needs to respect.

As a pioneer in the development of Asian supermodels, she broke into the core circle in an era when the European and American fashion industry was extremely resistant to Asian faces, which was of epoch-making significance.

Ranked 5th in the world, and the only Asian face in the top 50, you can imagine how difficult that is.

If Liu Wen is the pinnacle of Asian models in the international fashion world, then this is the pioneer who paved the way for Liu Wen.

In terms of influence alone, Ai Tominaga, who is currently at his peak, is basically on par with masters such as Yohji Yamamoto, Issey Miyake, and Hiroshi Fujiwara.

She gave "Born to Sing Wildly" a "world-class" rating.

"This is a world-class masterpiece."

The focus is not on photography skills, but on Fang Xinghe's state of mind.

He showed a great deal of authenticity. Readers might think, what kind of authenticity does taking a photo need?
No, for these close-up portraits, authenticity is the most important element to move people. Only with enough authenticity can we feel the emotions that the creator wants to express, rather than just a series of dazzlingly handsome photos.

Don't insult this work by calling it "showing off." It's not the kind of cool, forced poses you see on the street; it's an artistic creation with emotion, life, and soul.

It has a clear theme, appropriate makeup and styling, genuine emotions, and the awareness to open one's heart.

So think about it carefully, don't you think it's amazing?

Fang Xinghe is like this now—wild, domineering, and stubborn, a samurai ready to die at any moment.

In the photos, Fang Xinghe has rediscovered all his past hardships. He truthfully presents to us the deepest anxieties of his soul, the fragmented fragility and delusions, and the life marks bearing strong negative imprints. This is truly a remarkable artistic attempt, and his artistic soul deeply moved me.

I would recommend "Born to Sing" to the Paris Photography Awards - Aperture Photobook Awards; it's sure to sweep all the major art awards this year.

The high praise from the fashion queen has prompted ordinary readers to re-examine this photo book.

To be honest, there really is a threshold to aesthetic appreciation.

Turning a touching story into a movie can easily resonate with 90% of people.

However, if it's written text, there's a barrier to understanding it, and perhaps only 70% of people can do it.

If it's just a photograph, painting, or even calligraphy, then most people won't understand it.

For example, the "Jianghu style" of calligraphy is praised by netizens, but those who have studied it frown. This is not aesthetic bullying—if the rules are not followed, the more you write, the worse it becomes.

Understanding the beauty of a painting is even more difficult than understanding calligraphy.

Because calligraphy has fixed rules that can be systematically learned, but video has no fixed form. It is composed of many complex elements such as composition, color, framing, and figures, making it too subjective and conscious.

Therefore, whether "Born to Sing Wildly" is good or not depends on the word-of-mouth of buyers, but even more importantly on the opinions of authoritative figures.

Subjectively, Xinghe doesn't like this situation of being controlled by others; objectively, this is the current reality.

Before he himself became an authority in the fashion world, the hype from the fashion industry was of great significance.

To this end, Fang Xinghe authorized Kadokawa to hold a celebration party for "Born to Sing Wildly," inviting guests including top luxury brands, fashion magazines, left-wing writers and painters, well-known designers and photographers.

Fang Xinghe didn't bring anyone from the entertainment industry with him; he only had one director, Takeshi Kitano, and several screenwriters.

Japan has a clear class system, with the entertainment industry ranking below the cultural circle, and the fashion circle considering itself superior. Fang Xinghe was too lazy to correct their thinking, since he was in the upper echelons anyway.

The celebration party was a great success, with guests and hosts alike enjoying themselves immensely. Wherever Fang Xinghe went, he was met with praise.

They rake in 40 billion yen in a week; even the most noble have to bow down.

The three leading figures of Harajuku (Nigo, Hiroshi Fujiwara, and Jun Takahashi) spoke highly of him, talked to him about many topics related to trend concepts, and explored the possibility of cooperation several times.

Nigo's camouflage ape head logo is a global phenomenon, and knock-off versions are also popular in major Chinese cities. I wonder how many people born in the 80s wore them.

Hiroshi Fujiwara is a current street fashion opinion leader, owning several trendy brands.

Jun Takahashi's UNDERCOVER made its debut at Paris Fashion Week this year.

With the addition of mainstream international masters such as Yohji Yamamoto, Rei Kawakubo, Issey Miyake, and Kenzo Takada, the Japanese fashion industry at this time could truly be described as a towering mountain, profoundly influencing trends across Asia.

That's not just about beating China; even getting close to them is considered shamelessly piggybacking on their success.

However, during the conversation, Fang Xinghe was not afraid of anyone.

Not only is its commercial value off the charts, but "Born to Sing Wildly" is also ahead of its time in terms of its concepts, and a large number of pure artists genuinely admire it.

There's one question that everyone's curious about—

Why did you choose to take your first set of photos in this way?

To understand this issue, one must first understand the groundbreaking nature of the phrase "Born to sing wildly."

The combination of photos and captions creates a narrative silhouette that focuses on exploring the inner emotions of the characters, without deliberately making themselves look ugly or being afraid to look ugly.

Modern Japanese photobooks are too focused on looking good; elements like sexiness, coolness, trendy symbols, and luxury are all superficial.

They also delve into the inner world, but it's the photographers who delve into the inner world of the celebrities.

"I want a certain kind of emotion."

"I want a certain kind of expression."

"Try to relax a little more and try to think about the sad things..."

That's generally how it is: the photographer is the main creator, and the celebrities are just puppets who show off their looks and sex appeal.

【Born to Sing】is a completely different piece. Fang Xinghe is the absolute creator, and it is extraordinary from the moment the tiger crouches on the cover.

Hearing the artists chatting, models like Kikukawa Rei and Tominaga Ai perked up their ears.

Fang Xinghe answered in this way.

“I’m not a star in the traditional sense—you get the script, ponder the emotions, get to the character, start acting, and wait for the director to yell ‘cut.’ Good actors also need to engage in secondary creation when making a film, but this creation faces three constraints.”

The first comes from the director's creative concept.

The second type comes from the logical framework of the script.

The third type comes from genuine feelings and reactions in reality.

You see, actors have limited freedom in their artistic creation, and so do models; they both first determine the theme and then explore how to express it.

But I am essentially a writer, and my creative process is based on a high degree of freedom.

So, before filming "Born to Sing Wildly," I didn't consider a specific theme; I only decided on one thing—it was the authenticity of freedom, not the freedom of reality.

The foundation is reality, and the adjective is freedom.

I decided to present a truth without limits.

So what am I really like?

I've been down on my luck, ugly, confused, uneasy, and cowardly... I've been tough, hateful, greedy, crazy, and moving forward.

All of the above are part of me; the absence of any one of them would lead to disharmony.

So this photo book is a complete story. I used fragmented words to string together more than ten years of my life, and then went to each important juncture to find the silhouettes of that time, making sure to accurately reproduce the emotions of that moment.

Look, the last photo is called "Mountains and Sea," which is a summary of my progress after the college entrance examination. It marks the end of one story and the beginning of a new journey.

But this story doesn't play out in sequence. The cover is called "Wild Tiger Sniffing Flowers," which represents the moment I unleashed my inner animalistic nature, a turning point of awakening, not the initial starting point.

As a result, many people did not realize that this was a complete story.

However, if you rearrange the photos, prioritizing cowardice, you can trace a clear line of growth.

Why does "Born to Sing Wildly" possess the power to touch people's hearts?
Essentially, it is my experiences, my growth, and my current state that have touched people's hearts.

I imbued the photographs with extremely real and intense emotions, which you saw and felt, penetrating deep into my life and thus giving you a completely different feeling.

This is not a limited performance like a model's, but a deeper and more profound penetration of the soul.

You have the best designers, the best photographers, the best makeup artists, the most talented fashion masters, and the strongest fashion market, but your photo shoots are too superficial.

Japanese photography remains at a very superficial level, and Japanese fashion has not truly penetrated the core of the nation. My victory is only natural.

No one expected that Fang Xinghe would actually use such a powerful move right in front of everyone.

It's one thing to brag about yourself, but why do you have to put us down too?!

The atmosphere around them suddenly became quiet.

But Brother Fang didn't care. His expression was calm and indifferent, and he seemed relaxed and at ease.

As a result, many people gradually became more comfortable with it.

"In principle, I agree with your judgment."

Issey Miyake was the first to speak. He was still thinking about having Fang Xinghe endorse the brand, and didn't care who the little darling had insulted.

"The entertainment industry today is really outrageous. They lack culture and the ability to think critically. Their intellectual depth and artistic foundation are so poor that they are only fit to take sex appeal photos. They desperately need real artists to teach them how to shine."

Fujiwara Dai, his prized student, immediately chimed in.

"That's right, but teacher, please don't be too harsh. Fang Xinghe is not someone anyone can learn from. Establishing a philosophical level is already very difficult, let alone actual creation—those exquisite words, who but top writers can write them?"

Rei Kikukawa is a highly educated actress and also a literary and artistic woman.

She exclaimed, "Your Highness Fang Xinghe's ingenious ideas are truly amazing! I've read 'Born to Sing Wildly' many times, but I never realized it was a story. I was too superficial, only focusing on Fang Xinghe's beauty..."

Several women around them let out ambiguous chuckles, and the atmosphere gradually became more relaxed.

Even the usually aloof Ai Tominaga chimed in, saying, "I should also rewatch 'Born to Be a Madman.' It's really rude of me to comment on it without understanding it."

The Japanese fashion world is not easily convinced, but Fang Xinghe's kick to the heart was so vicious that they had no way to argue back.

It's been several days since it was posted, and everyone's been eagerly commenting, but they don't even understand the story. It's really embarrassing.

Even if you're thick-skinned and don't feel ashamed, you shouldn't be contradicting others anymore.

Those with prejudices remained silent, leaving only those who admired him to speak. In an instant, praise poured in, and the discussion became passionate.

In just one celebratory party, Fang Xinghe established a formidable image in the Japanese fashion world, like a steel nail driven deep into it.

Naturally, starting from the second day, the discussion on "Singing Wildly in Life" entered another climax.

……

South Korea's leading women's magazine, CeCi, stated: "【Born to be a Madman】's conquest of the Japanese fashion world demonstrates the outstanding influence of South Korean fashion trends. Bang Seong-ha-ssi's unique Korean artistic style has sparked a frenzy of discussion..."

As the undisputed leader among women's magazines, CeCi knows exactly how to please its audience.

They not only bought the photo of "Fang Xinghe gazing at the starry sky of South Korea's 100-mile-long street" as the cover, but also seriously discussed how many Korean pop elements were in the photobook.

Actually, there wasn't anything wrong with it, but after those Korean idols copied Fang Xinghe's look, things got complicated...

Even the gods couldn't solve this.

Fang Xinghe had no choice but to raise the price of the Korean version of "Born to Sing Wildly" a little more.

99999 Korean won!

It is approximately equivalent to 645 Chinese Yuan. The Korean Won is pegged to the US dollar, so the exchange rate fluctuates rapidly.

This price is higher than in Japan, but the Korean Mantianxing proudly declares: "It should be more expensive than in Japan! Our love for our idol is the greatest in the universe!"

Okay, keep it up, your brother's love for you is number one too~~~
Vogue Korea: "Ordinary people use beauty as a weapon, but Fang Xinghe tells stories with his thoughts. The artistry, literary merit, fashion sense, and aesthetic heights of 'Born to Sing' have reached a level that Japanese photography has never even dreamed of. This is a groundbreaking and unmissable masterpiece. It is not only the best of the year, but should also be added to your collection..."

The most premium and authoritative gourd brand has launched a "life collection" campaign.

Koreans are most susceptible to this kind of brainwashing; anyone who doesn't buy it is out of touch. It works every time.

Later, they flocked to Shanghai for tourism, experiencing the exact same process, even taking out loans to do so, which shows just how strong their herd mentality is.

Therefore, this market is even more bizarre—it broke 40 units in Japan within a week of its launch, and reached 40 units in South Korea in just three and a half days.

If we're comparing total potential, then there's no way to compare them.

But when it comes to enthusiasm, no one in South Korea can beat them.

Later, fans of TWICE, BLACKPINK, and BTS could grow a kidney in just a few days, which was no joke.

Seeing this, Fang Xinghe decided not to rush the autograph sessions and fan meetings in South Korea, letting them have their fun first, and then giving them a little push when they were too tired to continue...

……

The Southeast Asian market... well, let's not even talk about it.

"Born to Sing Wildly" is placed alongside Squash, only available in high-end bookstores in select cities, priced at seventy or eighty US dollars. What's there to look forward to?

The same is true in China.

Despite setting an ultra-low price of 499, he still had little hope for sales.

No matter how many die-hard fans you have, you need to have the money to back them up!
Furthermore, fearing trouble, he specifically pinned a statement at the top of his official fan cafe—minors are not allowed to borrow or cheat money to buy photo albums, and it is not recommended for minors without income to buy photo albums.

The signature is Fang Xinghe's management team.

I don't know if it's effective, but sales in the Chinese market have been lukewarm.

It only sold 15 copies in a week.

Singapore, with a population of over 400 million, is selling it for 32; the difference is simply enormous.

At this point, only Hong Kong and Taiwan remain as core markets.

These two places are really bizarre. Fang Xinghe has won over so many foreigners, but these two places look down on a mere mainland guy.

If you don't personally come to pay your respects, you won't receive a single kind word.

There's even a woman in Taiwan who declared: "I'll sign a contract with any local agent; otherwise, I won't come to the island."

My first ban in my life came so suddenly...

　Dragon Boat Festival

　　
　
(End of this chapter)