A memorial statue honouring Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu was unveiled on Monday (2 Feb), marking the first anniversary of her death, in an emotional ceremony attended by her family and close friends.
Held at her resting place in New Taipei City, the unveiling saw loved ones break down in tears, with her mother embracing the statue as rain poured throughout the ceremony.
Source: @elephantdee on Instagram
Hsu Hsi-yuan, also known as Barbie Hsu or “Big S”, died on 2 Feb 2025 at the age of 48 from influenza-related pneumonia.
Source: @hsushiyuan on Instagram
Her ashes were laid to rest on 15 March 2025 at a private cemetery, with her husband, South Korean musician and DJ Koo Jun-yup, better known as DJ Koo, leading the burial rites.
To commemorate the anniversary of her passing, DJ Koo designed a memorial sculpture dedicated to his late wife, working with a creative team led by Taiwanese artist Chen-Dao Lee.
Source: 李承道 on Facebook
On Monday, family members and friends gathered in the rain as the statue was unveiled.
Applause broke out as a cloth was removed to reveal a white sculpture of Barbie Hsu, standing approximately 3.3 metres tall with her hands clasped over her chest.
The statue stands at the centre of a circular “orbit”, surrounded by nine cubes. Three are positioned on the ring itself, while six are placed nearby, with one serving as a pedestal.
Source: 李承道 on Facebook
Barbie Hsu’s younger sister, television host Dee Hsu, was seen gently stroking the statue with tears in her eyes.
“I really miss you,” she said.
Source: @elephantdee on Instagram
Their mother, Madam Huang Chun-mei, wept as she embraced the statue, bowing deeply before it.
“I love you. I’ll always be behind you, supporting you, and you’re supporting me, too,” she said.
Translation: I love you.
Source: @chendao_lee on Instagram
DJ Koo was also visibly emotional, choking back tears as he addressed his late wife during the ceremony.
Source: 李承道 on Facebook
In an Instagram post later that day, Dee Hsu expressed her gratitude to DJ Koo for designing the memorial, as well as to the friends and family who attended despite the rain to offer flowers.
“I hope that everyone who loves Big S can come visit her when they miss her, and talk to her,” she wrote.
Source: @chendao_lee on Instagram
The creative concept behind the sculpture, titled “Eternal Orbit of Hsi-Yuan”, was also shared by Mr Lee.
According to the artist, DJ Koo said that Barbie Hsu often joked she was an alien from outer space, which inspired him to create a “galaxy” that exists solely for her.
Source: 李承道 on Facebook
The nine cubes orbiting the statue resemble planets, reinforcing the cosmic theme.
Beyond their visual symbolism, the number nine holds deep personal meaning for the couple: in Korean, “nine” is a homophone of “Koo”, making it Barbie Hsu’s favourite number and a private symbol shared between them.
Facing 208 degrees south, the statue is oriented toward Taipei, where her family and loved ones reside.
Source: 李承道 on Facebook
This direction also marks 8 Feb, the couple’s wedding anniversary, described as “a day when love was fulfilled and extended into eternity”.
Also read: Barbie Hsu’s husband reportedly visits late wife’s grave daily, even on rainy days
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Featured image adapted from 李承道 on Facebook, 大S 徐熙媛 on Facebook, and 小S 徐熙娣 on Facebook.