Direct to Media Printing on Animal Skin, Ed of 7 in 31.4 x 40 cm, Ed of 5 in 120 x 153, Ed of 3 in 180x230cm
I always find it strangely rewarding when things going on in London get featured in the Korean press. London-based photographer Bae Chan-hyo’s upcoming exhibition at Purdy Hicks, Jumping Into, gets a feature in yesterday’s Korea JoongAng Daily newspaper. Bae has been active on the London art scene at least since 2006, when he took part in the first 4482 exhibition of London based Korean artists while studying at the Slade. He has been with Purdy Hicks since 2009, when the gallery took his work to London Art Fair.
Bae’s distinctive work, self portraits in elaborate western female costume in painstakingly staged semi-historical scenes, are instantly recognisable and explore the feelings of alienation that can be experienced by Asians in the west. Sharp-eyed viewers will have spotted one of his works displayed on the wall of the chaebol boss’s house in Im Sang-soo’s 2012 movie The Taste of Money.
Bae has had a break from London solo shows over the last few years and it will be good to see a new body of work. To accompany the exhibition a retrospective book of his work has been produced by the Museum of Photography in Seoul. The exhibition opens on 8 March. He is currently visiting Chennai, India, where he has a solo show and is participating in the Chennai Photo Biennale 2019.
Links:
- Subverting the self-portrait: Photographer Chan-hyo Bae satirizes Western culture by inserting himself into evocative images, Korea JongAng Daily, 25 february 2019
- www.purdyhicks.com