Jessica BMW

„Jessica BMW” (2024) From Fantasy to Fame: Can fantasy become reality?

Research-creation project examining the relationship between fame, fantasy, and identity formation. The project explores how creating a persona representing one’s aspirational fame fantasy can influence self-understanding and reality.

The persona name „Jessica BMW” plays on Polish influencer Jessica Mercedes’ name (BMW vs. Mercedes car brands), creating a satirical commentary on influencer culture and celebrity aspiration. Through performance, video, graffiti intervention on the Berlin Wall (Mauerpark), and photographic documentation, the project investigates whether fantasies about fame and self can materialize into reality through embodied performance of an aspirational persona.

Drawing on Žižek’s theory of fantasy, feminist art criticism (particularly selfie-feminism and Audrey Wollen’s „sad girl theory”), and research on maladaptive daydreaming, the project questions what makes fame so compelling that it penetrates individual fantasies. The work builds on earlier projects examining celebrity worship („How to be like Beyoncé,” 2018) and obsessive self-improvement through digital media („Filter Collection,” 2021).