Surreal Photography: Illusions and Dreams | Hyunmin Zoh

I have captured images that have personal meaning in my life. Most of these images are pictures of people whom I care about, that I have taken in different places and periods of time. But sometimes, I also used images from old pictures, pictures posted on other’s social media, and certain objects that have personal significance. By adding up these images that contain personal stories, I extracted the colors of memories I perceive from certain people, places, and cities.

Hyunmin Zoh is a researcher living and working in Chicago and Seoul. I am interested in images, cities, and everyday lives — 1. how mobilities, media, and climate change are making “image-driven” cities? 2. How can we develop our individuality and emotions from overwhelming social forces? I use photography and a variety of media to express what he sees from people, places, and nature in his everyday life. I recently participated in an interdisciplinary art exhibition that records changes in the climate and ecosystems at the neighborhood scale with the collaboration of artists, curators, and musicians at the Museum of Contemporary Art Busan. I am currently doing my doctoral studies on urban planning and policy in Chicago. Before, I studied geography, sociology, and urban engineering in Seoul. Also, I have several years of experience working on urban policies, global development, and climate change at international organizations and research institutes.