Some of you may have doodled on a photograph when you were a child, making your parents get mad. French pictorial photographer duo "Pierre et Gilles" holds the largest exposition in Asia, which involves 211 works of art filled with their artistic splendor and cheeky imagination.
Pierre Commoy and Gilles Blanchard met at a party in 1976 and soon started cohabiting in a studio in Paris. The following year, they announced a series of hand-painted photographs depicting famous figures such as Andy Warhol, Salvador Dali, Yves Saint Laurent and so on, gaining fame.
There has been little change to the way the French artists work since they shared their lives and career as an artist. Gills draws on photographs taken by Pierre. A frame is added on a completed work to make it look three-dimensional. The exhibition releases their early-era works and portraits of famous K-Pop artists of CL and T.O.P.
At first glance, you may find that their portrayal works are decorated with smartphone in-app camera filters on. Colorful flowers and repetitive decoration patterns surround the figure in the frame. However, they are the result of limitlessly expanded imagination over the past 50 years. Beyond the arts field, their sense of aesthetics gives an inspiration to pop culture and fashion including a movie poster of the "Sympathy For Lady Vengeance" directed by Park Chan-wook.
It is the first time in 14 years since they met Korean fans. The exhibition provides visitors with a package of full and varied experiences including a chance to make their own work by copying the artists and taking their selfies in the artists’ photo style. Docent programs are offered free at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., from Thursday to Sunday.
The exhibition will be held by March 17and will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at K Museum of Contemporary Art in southern Seoul.
gustav@donga.com