On February 2, marking one year since Barbie Hsu’s passing, a portrait statue of the actress was unveiled at Jinshan Cemetery in New Taipei City. The statue faces Taipei’s familiar skyline and was inaugurated in a solemn ceremony attended by family members and close acquaintances.
While attendees at the unveiling described the atmosphere as deeply emotional, reactions online were sharply divided. Numerous social media users commented that the statue “doesn’t look like Barbie Hsu at all,” “doesn’t evoke any memory of her,” and “resembles a stranger or even a cartoon character.” Some compared the statue unfavorably to nearby memorials of the late Godfrey Gao and CoCo Lee, expressing disappointment and even suggesting a public fundraiser to remake the sculpture. The topic “Barbie Hsu statue” quickly rose to the top of trending discussions on Weibo, generating hundreds of thousands of comments.
Amid the controversy, Lee Seung-do, the project’s creative director, addressed the criticism on the afternoon of February 2. He explained that the work, titled “Barbie Hsu’s Eternal Orbit,” was conceived as an installation art piece rather than a realistic portrait. The statue of Barbie Hsu is presented alongside abstract sculptural forms and was created in collaboration with a leading Taiwanese art production team after months of discussion and revisions. The final piece was completed using stainless steel and cast brass, occupying an exhibition space of approximately 72 square meters, with the main sculpture standing about 330 centimeters tall.
Responding directly to claims that the statue does not resemble the actress, Lee stated, “This statue was not meant to recreate Barbie Hsu’s appearance but to find a place where her soul can rest.”
According to Sinchew, the unveiling ceremony took place amid heavy rain, adding to the somber mood. As the covering was removed from the statue, many attendees were moved to tears. The sculpture depicts a young woman with a ribbon in her hair, hands clasped in front of her chest, eyes closed as if peacefully asleep. Barbie Hsu’s mother was seen gently touching the statue, saying tearfully, “My dear child, you have been reborn. I will always support you, and I hope you will support me too.”
During the ceremony, Dee Hsu, the actress’s younger sister, delivered a speech on behalf of the family. She repeatedly thanked her brother-in-law, DJ Koo, for designing the statue and became emotional while speaking about him: “He never wanted anything except love. In the rain, he gave my sister a flower. He has always carried a pure, innocent heart, quietly protecting her. I am truly grateful to him.”
Dee Hsu and close family friends later sang a song dedicated to Barbie Hsu in the pouring rain. She remarked that her sister disliked sunny weather, adding that “this atmosphere suits her very well.” DJ Koo also addressed attendees in Korean, expressing his gratitude for the support shown to his late wife.
Barbie Hsu, born in 1976, was a renowned Taiwanese actress and singer best known for her roles in Meteor Garden, Mars, and Summer’s Desire. She stepped away from acting after 2012 and lived a largely private life. Following her divorce from businessman Wang Xiaofei in late 2021, she remained out of the public eye, focusing on raising her children. On February 3 last year, local media reported that Barbie Hsu had passed away a day earlier due to influenza and pneumonia while traveling in Japan during the Lunar New Year holiday.
Sources: Ngoisao