afterplay

The key-chain self portraits are inspired by the currently iconic Labubu keychains and also many other tchotchkes which were popular before. They are symbols of fleeting adoration, collectible desire and eventually discard. In 2025, I see myself and many creators reflected in the faith of Labubu. We are embraced for our creativity and hard-work. Celebrated while useful, then quietly abandoned once the hype ends.The workplace, especially in creative industries has begun to treat human creators like toys - charming, pliable and replaceable. When we enter the position underpaid and overworked very useful and when we are growing more to be something better than a junior asking for the full rate it’s our time to be replaced. When we are done with playtime we are not thanked. We are shaved, ghosted by recruiters and in the landfill abyss of Linkedinn. Labubu and every other mass produced object suffered from this cycle. This series confronts the generational emotional automation. The programmed pleasure of being needed, the power dynamics of being useful and the pain of being discarded. The metal is used in the portraits to capture the cold, hard beauty; a reflection of resilience and our obsolescence.This is about power, performance and programmed fake affection. About being wanted, then being over used. This is what it feels like to be a keychain in the chain in the age of AI.