Radio Chthulucene 87.9 FM

The Ferris of Dream is an artwork created by Karen Li and is an installation that is part of the class-wide project of Radio Chthulucene 1. It is a clash between modernism and dreamscape, as the Ferris wheel is wrapped in translucent paper, cotton-made clouds, and painted cardboard. These elements, disparate in the real world, come together in a fairy-tale-like combination that unveils the imagined future of college students.

At the base of this whimsical Ferris wheel, a Koi Fish is painted on cardboard, symbolizing good luck in Chinese culture. The vibrant red hues nod to the belief that the color brings fortune. The artwork draws inspiration from the ancient saying, “Koi Fish leaps the Dragon Gate 鲤鱼跃龙门,” which tells of fish overcoming barriers to reach warmer waters during Spring. The belief emphasizes a better future, as one that can survive the tough climates and hardship can become a strong figure, like a dragon. However, the fish in this scenario isn’t simply crossing a barrier, but the ever-turning loops of the wheel. This imagery mirrors life’s endless challenges; every turn of the Ferris wheel represents an infinite loop of obstacles.

The Ferris wheel becomes a metaphor for college students’ ceaseless struggles as they chase their dreams. Just as it would be nearly impossible for a koi fish to leap over a spinning Ferris wheel, students often face insurmountable barriers, whether it is adapting to college or finding the love of their life. The installation captures the bittersweet reality of college life—a candied, yet fragile haven that separates students from the real world, a sanctuary that could shatter at any moment. The Ferris wheel’s wrap within the holographic paper is the literal representation of that meaning.

The paradoxical elements in this installation are meant to evoke the conflicting emotions of aspiration and limitation. To enhance this surreal experience, the radio station plays a distorted version of the Chinese song “Fairy Tale童话.” The song is so heavily altered that it becomes almost unrecognizable, except for the chorus, which breaks through the distortion with haunting clarity. This distortion reflects the fragmented and often ungraspable nature of the student’s dreams, emphasizing the emotional turmoil of striving for an uncertain future.

The entire process of creating this was fun. I struggled nonstop to make this project successful, as I am entirely new to soldering and radio-making. There were so many hours I stayed at Envision lab because the work was never entirely finished, either the joint was off or a part broke…etc. However, it is worth it in the end as seeing the radio come to life and able to hear it through the channel 87.9fm s cool. The aesthetic part of creating the ferris wheel was through trial and error, as there were several iterations of popsicle stick structures, yet this was the finale.