June Korea - Moments Captured by the Epic Tale of Loneliness

By Jang, Juyeon

There is an artist who lives with a doll that is not so different from human. Someone would ask, “Why does the man live with a doll?” June Korea, a very ordinary person, is an artist who lives with a doll “Eva.” Eva is his friend and lover, and a safe haven to lean on. He has been documenting every moment of feelings associated with this particular creature, Eva, in a medium called photography.

Everyone feels lonely. They try to meet someone or have a lot of experience to overcome loneliness. But rarely look into the fundamental loneliness. He thinks that this loneliness is structured so that everyone can feel it. Therefore, he tries to capture the most fundamental human feelings in the structure of such loneliness.

Focusing on the doll as a source of emotion, he realized that it could satisfy the deficiencies with great comfort from the doll itself. The irony, non-human being console people about sensitive emotion only for them, is a special factor in Mr. Korea’s work. In the time he has been working with Eva, she was a passive character who measured up to his intension.

However, Eva who was mainly dependent on his designated circumstances and feelings suddenly has turned into a comporting person for him. As a result, he found himself talking to her more openly. She stood by him and listened to his stories, so she healed unconscious worries and scars that are at the bottom of his mind. In the end, Eva has turned into an active personality figure. Eva’s position, which has manually been changed, and his work at a turning point will be shown partly in Mr. Korea’s exhibition. 

After a quick look at Mr. Korea’s work, you can see the benefits of a solid narrative. What he is trying to say is clear. The eyes that show the weakness of human being and want to heal it cause the viewer to feel a lot of empathy. At the same time, it is also interesting that the development of narrative goes from the individual “I” to the community. The process of looking at the people who are in the same anxieties with me, reveals his delicate observation and altruism.

Photographs are also an important turning point in the life of Mr. Korea. Through the photographs, he is given the necessity and liveliness of life. The affection to these photographs is apparent in his works. In addition, light, the primary material, plays a major role in his work when he takes pictures. Lights as the main agent for creating dramatic scenes while naturally penetrating the viewer beyond recognition is also the most interesting part of his work process. Every image in a single photograph is an amazingly well planned one.

It also proves that he is immersed in this work. His sincerity over the painstaking work of stamping out hundreds of pages for a small beam of light makes it possible to expect his next works. It would be a good idea to have a constant interest and expectations in how Mr. Korea responds to the question of his continuing epic tale with Eva.

Instagram: @junekoreaphoto

Website: www.junekorea.com