The new landmark on Jibei Island, "Pearl Sprite," is criticized for resembling Chucky; artist says it's a shell spirit

▲ Wu Feida, a local artist from Penghu, designed the new landmark "Pearl Sprite" for Jibei Island. (Photo / Authorized by Wu Feida)

Reported by Cai Wenjun / Interview and writing

The recently unveiled three new art installations on Jibei Island, a must-visit destination in Penghu, were designed based on the local stone weir landscapes and cultural background. They include Auspicious Shell, Sea Light Sprite, and Pearl Sprite. Among them, Pearl Sprite, conceptualized as a spirit sitting inside a clamshell, drew criticism from many netizens for its large eyes and smile, with comments such as "creepy" and "looks like Chucky." In response, the artist responsible for the design, Wu Feida, stated: "It’s actually a shell spirit."

Wu Feida pointed out that both Pearl Sprite and Sea Light Sprite represent the ocean culture behind the people of Jibei. The 110-centimeter-tall and 150-centimeter-wide Pearl Sprite was designed with the concept of a pearl spirit. Since it is a spirit transformed from a pearl rather than an actual human, its unusually large eyes were deliberately designed to combine eeriness with cuteness.

▲ One of the new landmarks designed by Wu Feida for Jibei Island, "Sea Light Sprite." (Photo / Authorized by Wu Feida)

In the Penghu area, there is a traditional fishing practice known as "sea lighting," where fishermen carry lanterns into the intertidal zone at night to fish. Inspired by this, Sea Light Sprite is depicted carrying fishing gear such as lanterns and harpoons, showcasing Penghu’s traditional culture.

▲ Another new landmark designed by Wu Feida for Jibei Island, "Auspicious Shell." (Photo / Authorized by Wu Feida)

Wu Feida also mentioned that Jibei has long been famous for its stone weirs, with hundreds of them in the area — the highest density in the world. Additionally, the shape of the weir chambers resembles a heart. Combining this concept with the natural shape of the boat-shaped shell, he designed the 3-meter-tall "Auspicious Shell," which has become a new iconic symbol of Jibei.