LEE JOON GI: The Hottest, Handsomest & Most Talented Global Actor, Action Star, Singer and Model: Lee Joon Gi's Carp-To-Dragon Transformation Cover image in Sense China Captured For Posterity

LEE JOON GI’S

CARP-TO-DRAGON

TRANSFORMATION

COVER IMAGE

SENSE CHINA

CAPTURED

FOR

POSTERITY

Sense China, a fashion magazine, kicks off 2021 into high gear with Lee Joon Gi gracing the auspicious red cover of their special Lunar New Year edition. The Lee Joon Gi-Sense China February collaboration, depicting Lee, Sense China’s New Year Personality of 2021, as a carp that transforms into a dragon, pushes all the right buttons. The indelible portrait of the unique global superstar opens a window into the intriguing and fascinating world of Chinese culture, poetry and art and has everybody shouting, ‘Bravo!’.

Lee Joon Gi, who has long been considered as one of the ‘Male Gods’ by the Chinese, has been likened to a Busan seagull as he is physically strong, intelligent, versatile, tenacious, and possesses a strong, unwavering fighting spirit.

The gorgeous Lee has done a stellar job of pulling off several captivating poses for the magazine, tweaking the heartstrings of readers along the way. Sense China weaves Lee and Chinese cultural symbols together to create pure magic.

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Can one be faulted if one does a double take on seeing the enigmatic and spellbinding charm of the works of art? Sense China impresses with their effortless artistry, creativity and imagination in their dazzling stories about Lee Joon Gi. The aesthetic collection of images which juxtaposes Lee with Chinese symbols transports the readers to a wondrously fascinating universe.

The beguiling designs can be divided into the ‘cool’ (cool colours) and the ‘warm’ series (warm colours). Generally, while some mesmerising designs invoke the rule of the Golden Ratio, the other designs focus on balance.

One Chinese symbol in the series of edited photographs that the readers are drawn to is the traditional Chinese swallow kite. The popular swallow-shaped kite is the representative design of Beijing kites. Beijing was previously known as ‘The Capital City of Swallows (燕京 yàn jīng).

Swallows are considered as auspicious birds which return when the weather gets warmer; they signify the arrival of Spring that sees the growth and resurgence of all living things. The birds symbolise success, happiness and children.

The foreign readers of Sense China might be pleasantly surprised to learn that the Beijing swallow kite was used to create the adorable Nini, one of the five official 2008 Beijing Olympic Fuwa Mascots.

In one heart pounding image, the gorgeous superstar, uses his body to dazzling effect; he is ‘poetry in motion’.

Lee, wearing a unique black and white jacket, reaches out to receive some fragrant flowers and petals that swirl above him. The white shirt that Lee has layered under his jacket matches the white chest colour of the swallow.

The swallow is a stunning contrast of red-green colours, rose gold and green. The beautifully and elaborately designed swallow kite, with two dancing lions, other auspicious animals and flowers, is aesthetically positioned at the top of the image. The lion symbolises power, wisdom and superiority while a dancing lion showcases martial arts abilities.

A fat swallow is for an adult man while a slim one is for a woman.

In the swallow series, although the images are a mixture of warm and cool colours, the rose gold colour is dominant throughout the images. Rose gold is a favourite colour of the fashion industry as it represents elegance, sophistication and prosperity.

In another swallow design, the athletic superstar is seen energetically skimming the surface of the sea in preparation to take flight with the swallow kite.

In yet another image with the same pastel background, Lee, gripping tightly to the lucky swallow kite, stands on top of the mountain. Lee and the swallow kite add life and yang energy to the images.

In next design in the same swallow series, Lee is seen standing on the swallow kite and lifted by it to the top of the world, his world stage.

His right hand is raised in a triumphant gesture – the conquest of the world.

Another enchantingly-edited photograph is Lee standing beneath an exquisitely designed floral Chinese tea cup. The image delivers a seemingly surprise punch; the overturned tea cup hanging in the air pours rose gold paint onto the superstar.

Lee is a vision of elegance and sophistication; he is fantabulous in his plum-coloured turtleneck shirt, long jacket and jeans. The plum colour, a warm (red) and cool (blue) colour makes Lee simultaneously red-hot and cool.

The rose gold paint assumes the form of two auspicious fishes which transform into flowers. Generally, the fish in Chinese culture is a symbol of abundance and prosperity.

The image brings to mind Guan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy pouring pure water, the divine nectar of life (compassion and wisdom) from a water jar, onto the world.

When the overturned tea cup, in its descent to the ground, touches Lee, a frizzy white halo surrounds him. Instead of the rose gold paint, bronze liquid flows out. The handsome multihyphenate is transformed; he wears a white jacket which is teamed with a navy-blue turtleneck jumper and trousers.

In yet another stunning photograph with a plain beige background, Lee lies with his eyes closed under the symbolic figure 9. A bronze 9.

In the olden times in China, bronzeware was the symbol of royalty.

To the Chinese and the Koreans, 9 is a lucky number. It means ‘long-lasting’, ‘ever-lasting’ or ‘longevity’. 9 was traditionally associated with Chinese emperors; the emperor’s clothes had 9 dragons on them and the world-famous Forbidden City is a representative palace of Nine.

Sense China’s other collection of images sees the multihyphenate being drenched in a sea of fiery red and yellow, two of the Chinese lucky colours. There is a spontaneous combustion that blows everyone away. The radiating and glowing images of the handsome Lee Joon Gi bring out a burst of adrenaline.

In the image above, Lee wears a jacket with a ‘flames of fire’ design. He is ‘on fire’; he is always full of enthusiasm, passion and drive. Does one feel a surge of warmth?

All the other eye-catching fiery images tell the viewers that the multihyphenate superstar is ‘setting the world on fire’, meaning, Lee Joon Gi is very successful and attracting a lot of attention.

Lee Joon Gi’s many years in the complicated world of showbusiness have been filled with uphill struggles; he had to face extreme prejudice and injustice in his career. His immense inner strength, absolute self-confidence, enormous passion and relentless drive have enabled him to overcome life’s difficulties. Unlike many actors of his generation or older whose shelf life has not been significant, Lee has emerged stronger than ever from his punishing and stormy ordeals. He now shines like a brilliant, luminous star.

With his tour de force performance in the masterpiece 2020 drama, Flower of Evil, Lee Joon Gi now ranks among the most important global drama actors. Flower of Evil, which dissects various societal issues, particularly mental health issues, is unquestionably the finest 2020 drama.

Sense China reminds us of a story in Chinese culture: Lee Joon Gi resembles the determined carp who swims against the waves, leaps over the Dragon Gate and transforms into a dragon that flies up to the skies.

In the magazine, the charming superstar works his magic with an oversized burgundy Mefur puffer jacket.

One cannot but be in awe of Sense China’s astonishingly beautiful and extraordinary images of Lee Joon Gi, the multihyphenate superstar. It wouldn’t be surprising if their unique creative works of art find their way to the great art exhibitions and museums in the cultural cities of the world.