인천에서 태어났다. 여러 다큐멘터리/미디어 프로덕션에서 일했다. 한국남성(줄여서 한남)으로써 인간중심주의와 남성중심주의에 저항하고, 사회와 국가에 자리잡은 다양한 경계의 의미와 실체를 분석하고 해체하는 작업을 이어가고 있다.
Inseok Choi - 최인석/崔仁碩/Choi In-Seok (pronounced 'CHE IN-suk,' b. Incheon, South Korea) is a lens-based visual artist whose work explores themes of migration, memory, and the intersections of body and space. Through his art, Choi examines boundaries—linguistic, visual, and conceptual—while identifying as a transnational wanderer. His practice incorporates mixed media and genres, investigating questions of identity, belonging, and the fluid distinctions between human and non-human beings.
Having moved over 20 times in his life, Choi’s experiences of displacement and adaptation deeply inform his artistic perspective. Since relocating to the United States in 2018 with his partner, he has explored themes of otherness, the diverse meanings of 'home' and 'place,' and the interconnectedness of documentation, memory, and emotion. His work resists androcentric and anthropocentric viewpoints, instead embracing nuanced understandings of coexistence and identity.
Choi holds an MFA from the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) and is currently an assistant professor at the University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College.
Artist Statement
이사를 많이 다닌다. 내게 이사는 앞뒤로 많은 감정과 체력을 쏟아붓는 큰 일이다. 장소에서 시작되는 이야기를 찾는 동안, 나는 개인적인 순간과 다른 존재에 말을 거는 식으로 내가 거쳐온 곳에 특별한 감정을 심어 길러내었고 지금도 기르고 있다. 감정이 깃든 장소 대부분은 더는 존재하지 않는다. 재개발로 헐려 사라지거나 전혀 다른 곳이 되었기 때문이다. 부모를 포함한 대부분 한국 사람들은 집/장소를 돈으로 치환 가능한 존재/부동산으로 가늠한다. 신속한 재개발을 목격하는 건 그저 현상에 지나치지 않는다. 이를 통해 나는 여러 경계에 더 가까이 다가가 생각하고 이야기를 풀어낸다.
사진을 이용해 드러나지 않는 주변부/바깥들의 이야기와 감정에 집중하고 일종의 다리가 되어 관찰보다는 전달한다. 소외/배제된 존재에 초점을 맞추어 인간중심주의, 남성중심주의, 자본주의, 국가주의, 그리고 탈식민주의를 연구한다.
I've moved 20 times, and moving has become an almost yearly event, whether I wanted it or not. Each move throws me into chaos, as I'm never ready to leave, settle, or adjust. I've always thought of myself as a slow thinker, and moving disrupts that, forcing me to navigate a transient life as a prospective immigrant. These constant shifts make me reflect on the spaces I've lived in—not as separate environments but as organic parts of me, fragments that will eventually fade but still hold meaning.
Most of the places and communities I've called home have disappeared due to rapid redevelopment. Witnessing this erasure is heartbreaking and fills me with guilt, especially when I think about my role as an observer. At the same time, however, documenting these moments with lens-based media has helped ease my anxiety. It's drawn me closer to the edges of these spaces and their stories while also allowing me to translate that experience into a visual language that critiques the violent aspects of Korean society—its toxic masculinity and the myth of homogeneity.
This process also influenced my decision to move to the United States, where I hoped to grow as a photographer and an educator. Here, being an Asian man has come with challenges, from feeling otherized to confronting stereotypes, but it's also inspired me to expand my perspective. My work now examines non-human subjects and the relationships between people, spaces, and nature.
Using digital and analog photography, archival materials, moving images, and even camera obscura, I explore the landscapes shaped by androcentrism and anthropocentrism. I'm interested in visualizing the emotional weight of spaces—how they carry memories and histories that intersect with larger societal systems. Through my work, I hope to create safe, open spaces where people can share their stories and experiences, using art as a bridge to connect and heal.
Contact
whereischoi at gmail dot com
As of December 31st, 2024