ByBo-Kyung Byun (bokyungbyun@korea.ac.kr)

Step inside the special exhibition hall of the Korea University (KU) Museumand you’ll find yourself looking at a curious array of artworks. Upon firstglance they seem to be unremarkable photographs of ladies dressed inextravagant Victorian-style dresses, reminiscent of old European portraits whatwith the sharp contrast between the person in the frame with the rest of thedark backdrop. But perhaps knowing this little fact will trigger your interestsomewhat—the person in all the lavish gowns is the same person, the artist BaeChan Hyo himself.

Bae Chan Hyo is a famous Korean photographer whose works revolve around theissues of gender, culture, isolation, and stereotypes. His work Existing in Costume, currently displayedat the KU Museum, is the first series in a trilogy that Bae began in the year2005.

It all started when Bae left Korea to study at London’s Slade School ofFine Art in 2004. He felt wronged by the prejudice prevalent against Asian men,which often derided them to be more “feminine” than their Western counterparts.Thus Existing in Costume can beinterpreted as a form of protest and reaction against the exclusion Bae felt asa foreigner in English society. His works portray himself dressed up in avariety of different womens’ clothes from the 13th to 19^thcenturies, which can be seen as what photo editor David Rosenberg calls a “ifyou can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” feeling.

At the moment, Bae residesin London and is working on a fourth series titled Witch Hunting. Existing inCostume will be on display at the KU Museum until November 17. Students aswell as the general public are welcome to take advantage of the exhibition,free of cost, from 10 A.M. to 5 P.M. any day of the week with the exception ofMonday.

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