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Beauty Shop
Photograph
I place an ad in a Korean community newspaper to look for models. A few women call me each week. I do not ask how they look or how their space looks. As soon as I arrive in the models’ houses I look around and find a place to photograph. I look for Korean women in their late 20s and early 30s to explore my interest in the identity of Korean women in relation to their culture. Small objects in their environments are important because those things symbolize the cultural meaning and convey my intentions although everyone may interpret them differently. This photograph "Beauty Shop" depicts a typical scene of women at a beauty parlor. The environment of a beauty parlor stands for femininity and the Western cultural influence, which have become prominent to the Korean culture. Yet, I intend not to lose a sense of humor because the issue of cultural identity is a heavily loaded subject and sensitive matter to individuals.
--Soon-Hwa Oh