Written By DieuLinh
Edited by Ben Blavat

As if opening the portal to a fantasy land straight out of a fairytale book, Cho Gi-Seok’s first major exhibition, ‘Coexistence’, warmly invites us into his mind as we enter a world where the graceful harmony between human existence and the beauty of the nature that surrounds us is amplified.

Throughout the exhibition, Cho’s thoughtful usage of orchids pay homage to his Korean roots and heritage — where in Korean culture, orchids are one of the four gracious plants that symbolize passion and sensuality, as well as bringing good luck and longevity. The blossoming flowers soon become a recurring motif in his collection, in addition to vibrant butterflies, which appear in conjunction with human subjects. In Bad Dream #1, Cho’s subject is at the forefront of the image as they are covered with butterflies and adorn a jeweled headpiece. Posed in a relaxed yet elegant manner, in addition to the minimalist geranium red background, viewers are further intrigued by the hues of life that these butterflies bring to the piece. With their wings spread, as if gloating their beauty, they represent a tranquil state of contentment while symbolising prosperity.

The bold shades of this piece is instantly met with the juxtaposing subdued hues in Flower Study #18. With the darker shades of brown being more prominent, in both the subject dressed in a black suit and the sunflower seeds, we are instantly drawn to the golden petals that cover the person’s face. Conveying an enigmatic aura with the piece, Cho also uses the delicate petals as perhaps a symbol for, both, the beauty and fragility of life. Using both contrasting and complementary colours in this piece, the image becomes instrumental to the bigger message Cho channels in his works: how beauty can stem from polar opposites, and that beauty is to be found all around.

In addition to Cho’s intentional colour palettes and ingrained symbolism, his masterful use of synthetic materials throughout the exhibition replicates the aforementioned contrasting message. From using white balloons in Flower Study #9 to dynamic pale yellow threads in Flower Study #7, as well as showing his model and the flower they are emulating side by side as one harmonious complete piece, Cho pushes the boundary of imagination as creative as we see the parallels between the natural and human-made.

These dynamic portraits radiate life and spirit, all whilst conveying the crucial symbiotic relationship between us and the world we live in. And once we find a way to coexist in balance, the beauty of our world will only be magnified.

Cho Gi-Seok was born and is based in Seoul, South Korea. Starting his creative career as a Graphic Designer for many established Korean fashion labels, Cho later worked with scenography with the title of Art Director. Originally studying graphic design in school, Cho dropped out to pursue photography which furthered his passion for the field; this later led to Cho getting commissions within the fashion world. Since then, Cho has worked with Vogue Korea, CR Fashion Book, NIKE, Adidas, Cartier, Gentle Monster, and many other famous fashion labels. Cho also is the Creative Director of his own fashion brand, Kusikohc.

Jan 5 Exhibition Review: Cho Gi-Seok: Coexistence

Jan 6 Exhibition Review: Paul Kooiker: Fashion

Jan 5 Woman Crush Wednesday: Peggy Washburn

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