Images of Celebrities Mirror the Times
By Seo Dong-shin
Staff Reporter
Photographs of superstars like singer Rain and actor Jang Dong-gun, revealing the chiseled upper half of their body naked, or those of actress Kim Hye-soo and singer Lee Hyo-lee, with long hair flowing loose across their sensuous faces.
No, the exhibition is not aimed at drawing thousands of teenage followers, although it could be expected to happen without fail. The exhibition ``Myth in the Mirror,'' underway at Art Sonje Center since last week, was organized for a more serious theme: reflection on the relation between society's desire and reality.
Gathered are about 200 photographs of actors, singers, models and other celebrities in the entertainment industry, taken for use in film posters, magazines, or commercials. Twelve prominent photographers contributed about 15 pieces each for the exhibition.
``We aim to find a mirror reflecting the face of our times through these images,'' Shin Soo-jin, a photo critic and psychology researcher at Yonsei University who organized the exhibition, said. ``The mirror in this context is the one trusted by the stepmother of Snow White as an impartial judge of beauty. At the same time it's the mirror that attracts and drowns Narcissus into the pond, and also the mirror of Jacque Lacan, which marks a decisive turning point in the mental development of the child and becomes a stepping stone toward communication with others.''
While those who expect perfect eye candy may feel befuddled at such an academic kind of explanation, in short, the beauties in the photographs will reveal the desire _ whether it be beauty or a better life _ shared by the members of Korean society and the reality influenced by it.
Leading South Korean photographers are taking part in the exhibition including Park Ki-ho, who recently held a solo exhibition at White Wall Gallery in Cheongdam-dong, southern Seoul; Koo Bohn-chang, who is more well-known for his artistic photographs of white porcelain; and Cho Sun-hee, a popular photographer among fashion and entertainment industry people, who has also authored books on photography.
The exhibition will run through Aug. 15 at Art Sonje Center in Sogyeok-dong, near Anguk Station on subway line No.3. Lectures by participating photographers will take place every Saturday at 3 p.m. from this week to July 14. For more information, visit www.artsonje.org.
