In an ordinarily crazy dimension prevailed by chaos, schizophrenic lives and sounds, the visual work of Joel Han (b. 1988) is a perfect, harmonious break. After a relevant educational path – BA in Fine Arts and MFA in Photography –, the artist fully dedicated himself to photograph
.
I think Photography as a medium is more directly relatable as a human experience. I like to connect with the audience on a human level, as if it was an experience of their own. ..I think it enables the audience and I to truly see. - J. H.
.
In an ordinarily crazy dimension prevailed by chaos, schizophrenic lives and sounds, the visual work of Joel Han (b. 1988) is a perfect, harmonious break. After a relevant educational path – BA in Fine Arts and MFA in Photography –, the artist fully dedicated himself to photography: and he did that in one of the most creative places of the world, New York, where he is currently based.
Actually, thanks to his father – a passionate hobbyist and amateur – and to the inspiring work of William Egglestone, he has never been so far from this medium but, at the same time, he has been able to find his own path. And this path is rich of ‘visual poetry’, his pictures are odes to a distant planet, where everything is quiet, intimate and placid. In the series Contemplations, for example, every fragment taken from reality is turned into a balanced and coloured composition where emotions and nostalgia get along with an inevitable loneliness. While, for instance, the most recent experimentations concern overpainted images.
.
Internationally established, he has taken part in several exhibitions: among them, one can recall the ones at Fabbrica del Vapore (Milan), Pierogi Gallery and Steuben Gallery in Brooklyn (New York) and Menier Gallery in London.
If photography is something we use to “truly see” – instead of looking distractedly –, Joel Han, with his pictures, has reached this goal.
.
Author Silvia Colombo
L.A.: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? What led to you working in photography as artist?
.
Joel Han: I’m a photographer and visual artist working in New York. My father was a hobbyist photographer as I was growing up, so I wasn’t a stranger to the medium. Several years ago, I reflected back on what I enjoyed the most during my college years. I specifically recalled that I genuinely enjoyed photography classes. My mind was set since then.
.
L.A.: Who were the first artists that you found inspiring?
.
Joel Han: I like to think my work didn’t reach fruition until I started looking at William Eggleston’s work. It was a complete different way to seeing and that really changed the way I started photographing. When I was just starting, I had a really difficult time engaging in photography and fine art beyond the surface level. Eggleston’s work helped me realize this quite a bit.
.
.
Untitled #1
.
.
L.A.: What's the true role of the photographic medium in your creative work?
.
Joel Han: I think it enables the audience and I to truly see. Not look, but see. Most of the time, you don’t notice the strangeness of a scenery unless its still. I think Photography as a medium, compared to others such as painting and sculpture, for instance, is more directly relatable as a human experience. Perhaps it’s Photography’s photorealistic perception or its diaristic tendency. I like to connect with the audience on a human level, as if it was an experience of their own.
.
L.A.: Do you have a favorite shot in this series? If so, which one and why?
.
Joel Han: Not really. My photographs are diaristic in nature. They were all special in-between moments that inclined me to make the photograph in the first place.
.
.
Untitled #2
.
.
Untitled #3
.
.
L.A.: What is the role of the artist in contemporary society?
.
Joel Han: Artists have roles, sure. But so does every other occupation. I think the important thing is to feel good about yourself on a personal level and it will inadvertently benefit the society as a whole.
.
L.A.: What are your future plans/projects or aspirations?
.
Joel Han: I am always working on several projects simultaneously. Currently I’ve been experimenting beyond Photography. I started to paint on top of my prints. It’s still in a very early progress but I’m excited where this will take me.
.
.
Untitled #4
.
.
v>
.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
.
.
Joel Han http://www.joelhan.com
.
.
.
.
.
Connect