THE NATURE OF DOKKAEBI

By PAP Magazine Editorial

The nature of the dokkaebi — Korea's trickster spirit — lies in its simultaneous playfulness and menace, and this editorial reimagines that mythic duality through handcrafted objects and avant-garde beauty. Fine glitter particles in pink, blue, and yellow dust the skin like supernatural residue, while an orange-toned lip anchors the expression somewhere between human and otherworldly. The towering headpiece — a sculptural assemblage of multicolored felt pom-poms, twisted fabric cords, and dried florals — recalls both folk-festival props and contemporary installation art. A pleated tulle skirt in black and pink allows light to pass through its sheer construction, paired with a cropped vest that translates traditional dokkaebi imagery into a youthful, urban silhouette. The lavender-to-beige gradient backdrop suggests a neutral dimension where myth unfolds, while flat, shadow-conscious lighting renders the figure as a painterly subject. Coiled fabric ropes wrap around the neck and shoulders, functioning as both the dokkaebi's binding trick and a visual metaphor for entanglement, and the entire series becomes a material narrative — translating Korean folklore through tactile texture and experimental styling.