PYO GALLERY, LA, in conjunction with the Korean Cultural Center are pleased to announce a joint exhibition of photographs by two of Korea’s leading stage photographers; Eun Joo Lee and Shinae Choi. Eun Joo Lee will exhibit a series of limited edition images of the influential video artist Nam June Paik and Shinae Choi will present the world renowned ballerina, Sue Jin Kang. For decades Eun Joo Lee has captured the most respected performances in Korea and had the privilege of being the only photographer invited by Nam June Paik to document his final exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum. Nam June Paik was the first visual artist to fuse TV sets, music and noise with traditional art forms. His importance in this genre is global and is often dubbed the grandfather of video art. Lee traveled between Seoul and New York for fifteen years to photograph Paik’s portrait and developed a life long friendship. While the focus of this exhibit is about the reflective celebrity portraits, there is also an intriguing narrative of the two successful photographers being exhibited. They are mother and daughter. This presentation commemorates the 5th anniversary of Paik’s passing and has travelled to Seoul, Tokyo, and New York before coming to Los Angeles. The exhibition will be presented at two venues and will showcase separate bodies of work. The first show will be on view at the Korean Cultural Center from June 3rd thru the 16th and then a second expanded show will open at Pyo Gallery LA on June 25th.

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30th Annual Korean National Art Exhibition. Nam June Paik’s wife, Shigeko Kubota described their relationship by stating that Nam June Paik gave his spirit and life to Eun Joo’s camera. Lee recalls when Nam June Paik would say “ Make me look nice in the picture” and would then proceed to make funny faces and gestures.

Shinae Choi studied photography at Shingu University in Seoul and for the past ten years has cultivated a kindred bond with her muse, the ballerina Sue Jin Kang. Known for working on bare feet, Shinae Choi justifies this by saying, “Photographers need to move like air. We have to hold our breathes so that the people being photographed don't even notice.”