In Shanghai, a world of contradictions unfolds where imperfection becomes the truest form of beauty.
A First Solo Moment at Fotografiska Shanghai
Conceptual photographer Cho Gi Seok steps fully into the spotlight with The Coexistence of Imperfection, his first major solo exhibition, now on view at Fotografiska Shanghai through March 8. The exhibition brings together four defining series that examine the uneasy harmony between nature, technology, humanity and tradition. Rather than resolving these tensions, Cho allows them to coexist, revealing how fragility and authenticity are often intertwined.
Dream Logic and Delicate Tension
Known for his surreal and emotionally charged imagery, Cho has become one of Asia’s most influential contemporary photographers, shaping a new visual language rooted in softness, symbolism and subtle unease. His images have drawn global attention, leading him to direct music videos for artists like Jennie, XG and Kali Uchis, as well as campaigns for Louis Vuitton, Prada and Cartier. Each photograph feels suspended between a dream and reality, inviting viewers to linger in its quiet pull.
Across the exhibition, works from Flower Study, Bad Dream, Love & Hate and These Days move fluidly between harmony and dissonance. Bodies merge with flora, subconscious fears surface, and emotional extremes sit side by side. Tradition meets technology, not as opposites, but as collaborators in a shared emotional landscape.
Imperfection as Truth
“Imperfection is not a flaw, but a more authentic and profound state of being,” Cho explains. Trained originally as a graphic designer, he began working with photography in 2016 and is entirely self taught. That intuitive approach has fueled his rapid rise, placing his work at the forefront of what many describe as a New Asian visual sensibility, one that blends futurism with cultural memory and youthful optimism.
At Fotografiska Shanghai, Cho Gi Seok’s work offers a gentle but powerful reminder that contradiction is not something to be fixed. It is something to be felt, lived with and ultimately embraced.
