Winner's Kang Seung-yoon takes next step in his photography career

The name Yooyeon, a rookie photographer who is grabbing attention with his photographs that are currently being exhibited in StART PLUS gallery in Seongsu-dong, eastern Seoul, may sound unfamiliar. But his face may not be. Yooyeon, whose real name...

Yooyeon, otherwise known as Kang Seung-yoon of Winner, poses during a press event at StART PLUS gallery in late March for his first photography exhibition, "Sky Roof." [SHIN MIN-HEE]

The name Yooyeon, a rookie photographer who is grabbing attention with his photographs that are currently being exhibited in StART PLUS gallery in Seongsu-dong, eastern Seoul, may sound unfamiliar. But his face may not be.

Yooyeon, whose real name is Kang Seung-yoon, is a member of boy band Winner.

His debut show, titled “Sky Roof,” kicked off on March 23 at the gallery. The exhibition is mainly filled with black-and-white photographs that he took on his trips all over the country, including in his hometown Busan.

The name Yooyeon comes from the Korean word for “flexible,” as it’s the type of artist Kang says he strives to be; one that can fluidly interchange between a singer, an actor and now a photographer.

In a preview event on March 22, Kang said that he decided to take the next step in his career of being a photographer as he felt that it helped him to “capture the world better.”

Yooyeon, otherwise known as Kang Seung-yoon of Winner, speaks during a press event at StART PLUS gallery in late March for his first photography exhibition, ″Sky Roof.″ [SHIN MIN-HEE]

“I think photography became like a companion to me when trying to express other aspects of myself,” he said. “If in music, I try to intentionally reflect my feelings into the lyrics. [In photography] I try to create images that show the beauty of the world. Even simple everyday episodes can become art because they are records of our lives.”

The gallery said Yooyeon’s photographs were selected by British art collectors David and Serenella Ciclitira and were featured in booths at the Start Art Fair Seoul 2022.

A significant number of his photographs show the broad sky.

“I’ve always subconsciously taken pictures of the sky because I feel like I have this ambition to progress into a higher place,” he said. “Then I suddenly realized that the sky is like the roof of a home that protects me.”

Yooyeon introduced some special points visitors should look out for in his exhibition, for example a comparison between photographs “Together” (translated), which depicts a slum neighborhood, and “Falsehood” (translated), showing the upper parts of three high-rise buildings.

“In ‘Falsehood,’ I’ve wondered why people keep trying to buy tall buildings; maybe it’s because we all want to feel superior,” he said. “I think the desire of wanting to touch the sky itself leaves feelings of vanity. On the other hand, in ‘Together,’ I wanted to show all the houses in that neighborhood that although look very similar, add to the solitude because they are altogether.”

An installation view of ″Sky Roof,″ photographer Yooyeon's first exhibition at StART PLUS gallery in eastern Seoul. [START PLUS]

As for why a lot of the images were shot in Busan, Kang said that it’s because he wanted to revisit some places in the southeastern port city from his childhood.

“I realized how many things that appeared huge when I was younger now seem very small,” he said. “So I tried to apply some autobiographical aspects into my pictures as well.”

“Sky Roof” continues until April 19. StART PLUS is open every day from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets are 12,000 won ($9) for adults.

BY SHIN MIN-HEE [shin.minhee@joongang.co.kr]