The illusion of poppies 2

The Illusion of Poppies challenges the idea that perception is purely subjective. Through layered compositions and sepia tones, Julie Wang explores the dual certainty of shooting and editing—where each image undergoes a process of resembling, rebuilding, remembering, and reviewing what a poppy is. The series evokes Dukkha, the Buddhist concept of impermanence and illusion, as forms dissolve into shadows and re-emerge as echoes of themselves. By blurring the boundaries between presence and absence, reality and reconstruction, Julie invites viewers to reflect on the fragile nature of seeing—where nothing is fixed, and every image is a fleeting illusion.

Julie Wang

Julie Wang is a self-taught photographer whose work explores impermanence, perception, and the fluid nature of reality. Born in China and having lived across Europe and the U.S., her transnational experiences shape her artistic vision, blending Eastern philosophy with contemporary expression. Influenced by Taoist and Buddhist thought, her images embrace silence, transformation, and the unseen layers of existence. For Julie, photography is not about capturing moments but about recreating and reinterpreting them. Through subtle compositions and poetic abstraction, she invites viewers to contemplate the delicate balance between presence and absence, memory and illusion, reality and the unknown.