Sugar Rush
The Synthetic Playground
Art Direction, Photography, Production
D + F Studio explored the fleeting, kaleidoscopic world of childhood joy under the influence of refined sugars. This series captures the vivid, overstimulated expressions of children indulging in a hyper-colorful feast of fruit loops, pixie sticks, rainbow ice cream, and frosted donuts. Each photograph vibrates with a synthetic euphoria, blending the whimsical chaos of childhood with the surreal aesthetics of commercialized indulgence.
The art direction leans into a deliberately exaggerated palette—bright, saturated colors that mirror the artificially enhanced hues of the sweets themselves. The children's expressions oscillate between genuine glee and a manic, almost frenetic energy, reflecting the complex interplay of natural innocence and the overstimulation of modern consumer culture. Their laughter feels real but heightened, like a performance shaped by the sugar's temporary high.
This work is both playful and unsettling, a commentary on the ways in which we construct and consume happiness. The candy-coated joy feels artificial, fleeting, and a little out of control—inviting the viewer to question how these early, sugar-fueled moments of pleasure ripple through our larger understanding of joy, indulgence, and authenticity. By capturing the synthetic nature of this glee, Sugar Rush becomes more than a portrait of childhood; it’s a reflection on the intersections of innocence, excess, and the brightly packaged promises we often consume without question.
D + F STUDIO
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