By Honorary Reporters Mathilde Varboki from France and Snigdha Verma from India
Photos = Mathilde Varboki

The Korean Cultural Center in Belgium, through March 31 is hosting the exhibition "Who Am I," an event that launched the sixth PhotoBrussels Festival. Created in 2016, the monthlong festival invites both amateur and professional photographers and features exhibitions, workshops, conferences and guided tours, with this year's theme being self-portraits. 

The following are the works of five Korean photographers that were displayed at the exhibition's opening ceremony on Jan. 25.

Bae Chan-hyo's "Fairy Tale"

'Fairy Tale'

This series by Bae Chan-hyo expresses the alienation and prejudice the photographer suffered as an Asian student in the U.K. through famous Western fairytales. Displaying the cultural differences between Korean and British society, his works show traces of orientalism.

Ahn Jun’s "Self-Portrait"

'Self-Portrait' 

This project by Ahn Jun explores the boundaries between fantasy and reality through images of the photographer on rooftops and skyscraper railings. Sitting on the edge of a skyscraper with her eyes on the horizon, she expresses the absence of boundaries and delimitation, a temporary space of the present, between an unreachable future and an irrecoverable past.

Lee Jee-young's "Childhood" (left), "Broken Heart" (right)

'Stage of Mind' 

This series by Lee Jee-young is a look at the photographer's "inner self" by projecting her image on an artificial stage and objects. She chooses not to look into the lens so that, according to her, she avoids viewer attention in being just another object. "Childhood" (2009) contains elements of the fairytale "Cinderella" such as the glass shoe and a clock about to strike midnight. "Broken Heart" (2011) uses the Korean expression "Gyeraneoro bawichigi" (hitting a rock with an egg) to express difficulties in overcoming the trials of life.

Jeong Yun-soon's "Me, Challenge" (left), "Preservation" (right)

'Me, Challenge'

This series by Jeong Yun-soon draws inspiration from the traumatic experience of the photographer in an accident. He expresses his determination to live using images of an ark, city, and sea waves and wind. "Preservation" (2022) shows three busts of himself. The first is white with his eyes closed representing death; the second is shaded brown representing awareness; and the third in the top center represents life. A short video also summarizes the 12 hours or more he spent molding his face for this work. 

Choi Young-kwi's "Monologue" (left), "A Big Shoe" (right)

'Monologue'  

This series by Choi Young-kwi reflects her willingness to overcome the death of her husband. "A Big Shoe" (2019) shows that though she lives alone in a house with his belongings, she still feels the need for accompaniment and support.

msjeon22@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.