At the turn of the century, a group of conceptual photography and video works emerged in China, expressing the artists’ beautiful visions and utopian dreams regarding globalization and the potential changes it could bring. It was around this time that, due to the widespread use of computers and the Internet, artists gradually began to adopt new photography and video technologies, with Photoshop significantly expanding their understanding and practice of photography, video, and imagery. These works are a part of that movement; they not only capture the collective emotions of this unique historical moment but also serve as important witnesses to the technological medium’s transformation. Two decades later, photography and imaging technology have undergone numerous iterations and changes, and globalization has entered a new historical phase. Reflecting on these “rough” and distinctly era-defining conceptual works, we certainly marvel at the profound impact of technological mediums on contemporary art, but it seems that this long-lost sense of “optimism” and “comedic” quality deserves even deeper contemplation and appreciation.