I’m a Korean-American photographer who works in both South Korea and the USA. Frequently traveling between these two countries has provided me a unique perspective of Korean identity and its relationship to both global and regional communities. I studied photography as an undergraduate but set it aside during my MFA program to concentrate on intermedia. After receiving my degree I rediscovered photography, using it as a means to document and share my experiences. My work has been awarded by the Magnum Photography Awards, Sony World Photography Awards, LensCulture, Critical Mass, PDN, IPA, MIFA, TIFA, as well as selected for inclusion at the 2017 Aperture Summer Open: On Freedom. In 2018, I was accepted into the Eddie Adams Workshop XXXI.
2018 - Critical Mass Top 50 , 2017 - Magnum Photography Awards , 2017 - Sony World Photography Awards
"I think drag is very political. While capturing the attention of the general public, it opposes the expectations that society has for individuals based on their biological gender. As I stand against gender dichotomy, drag lets me express my opinion about it.” - Azangman -- From the series Stage Left, a project exploring the international underground drag scene in Seoul, South Korea. Accompanied by the words of each represented artist, these photographs offer a deeper understanding of what drag means to them.
"Drag is meaningful to me because it allows me to express myself in so many ways. As a young gay man from a small town, I grew up trying to hide every aspect of me that was feminine or not expected of men. So, drag has become a way for me to express all those things about myself that I kept hidden during my younger years.” - Charlotte Goodenough -- From the series Stage Left, a project exploring the international underground drag scene in Seoul, South Korea. Accompanied by the words of each represented artist, these photographs offer a deeper understanding of what drag means to them.
"I believe drag allows us to question social values and push our boundaries further. We are given a platform in queer spaces that can be used to advocate real change, explore new paths, and make non-conforming people more comfortable with who they are—to see what other possibilities exist. To me, drag is a way to empower myself and also those who can't do it.” - Nix -- From the series Stage Left, a project exploring the international underground drag scene in Seoul, South Korea. Accompanied by the words of each represented artist, these photographs offer a deeper understanding of what drag means to them.