[Gallery Walk] Directly Challenging Social 'Taboo'... Pornography Sublimated into Art

MapleSof's First Domestic Retrospective

International Gallery, Until Next Month 28
1st Floor Features Works Displaying Ambivalent Aesthetics
2nd Floor Exhibits High-Intensity 'X Portfolio'
Obscene Works Including Black Nude
Encourages Reflection on Minority Hate Issues

Maplesoft's 'Ken Moody and Robert Sherman' (1984, Silver gelatin, 40.64×50.8 cm).

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghyun Choi] "Beauty and devilishness are the same."

This was said by American contemporary photographer Robert Mapplethorpe (1946?1989) during his lifetime. Beauty inevitably presupposes the distinction between ‘beauty (美)’ and ‘ugliness (醜).’ This often leads to violence, sometimes to the extent of one-sidedly suppressing and eradicating the ‘ugly.’ Is beauty truly something good?

The International Gallery in Jongno-gu, Seoul, is holding a retrospective exhibition of Mapplethorpe until the 28th of next month. Although his works have been exhibited in famous museums and galleries worldwide, this is the first time in Korea. This is because he is a photographer who prominently features queer aesthetics, Black male nudes, sadomasochism, and pornography. Even during the 1970s and 1980s when Mapplethorpe was active, he suffered disdain from mainstream American artists and politicians who said, "What kind of art is pornography?"

Upon entering the first floor of the exhibition hall, themed ‘Sacred and Profane,’ there are black-and-white photographs that are less revealing than expected. Several figures are hung side by side, or people and objects are grouped together to emphasize relational meanings. Among the still life photographs, flowers are particularly abundant. Professor Yongwoo Lee of Sogang University, who planned the exhibition, explained, "Flowers are secular objects, but when the subject’s unique experience is reflected, they can transform into sacred objects. On the first floor, works that narratively unfold this ambivalent aesthetic are arranged."

The 1984 work ‘Ken Moody and Robert Sherman’ best illustrates this meaning. A Black man and a white man stand back to back in the same posture. If the photo were folded in half like a decalcomania, the two figures would overlap as one. This symmetrical arrangement based on the center is said to be an attempt to capture the subject’s most perfect moment and the essence of the subject. Perhaps it expresses that despite the severe racial discrimination at the time, the essence of Black and white people is the same human being.

Maplesoft's 'Milton Moore' (1981, Silver gelatin, 50.8 x 40.64 cm)

The second floor displays Mapplethorpe’s controversial works. These include the ‘X Portfolio’ series with high explicitness, such as objectified male genitalia, self-portraits boldly staring at the camera while having a whip inserted in the anus, and photos covered with oral sex devices.

While touring this area, one becomes aware of the ‘gaze of others.’ It may be difficult to look at photos exposing male and female genitalia for more than three seconds due to fear of being mistaken for a pervert. In fact, most viewers did not linger long on the erotic photos. Before appreciating the artistic value of the subject, external rules and customs obstructed the gaze. It must have been much worse in the era when Mapplethorpe lived.

While searching for where to direct one’s gaze, this thought came to mind: ‘Why do we find sculptures or paintings from the Greek or Renaissance periods with exposed genitalia beautiful, but have to look away from these works that are merely photographs (Photograph) drawn (Graph) with light (Photo)?’

MapleSoft's 'Robert Mapplethorpe_Watermelon with Knife'

The reason Mapplethorpe prominently presented obscene works such as Black nudes and queer pornography, which were taboo at the time, lies here. He wanted to directly challenge social ‘taboos.’ He realized portrait photography as a perfect photographic style through carefully considered lighting, composition, and precise gradation to maximize artistic value. He worked beyond the boundaries of media, including not only nudes but also still life photos of flowers, fruits, bronze statues, and fashion advertisement photos. He actively incorporated issues such as women, race, and sexual minorities into his work. Mapplethorpe proudly declared during his lifetime, "I elevated pornography to the realm of art."

The problematic awareness Mapplethorpe held is still applicable in today’s Republic of Korea. Representative examples include SBS deleting a gay kiss scene when broadcasting the movie ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ recently, and Seoul mayoral candidates using queer festivals merely as political tools to broaden their support base. What is more serious is that exclusion and hatred toward minorities are turning into ‘your side vs. my side’ issues, obstructing reflection on the essence.

The exhibition continues until March 28.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.