Photographer June Korea explores life with sex dolls

June Korea’s “Still Lives: Eva” is a documentary film about the life of a man and a sex doll. These photos are very attractive. Relevant media interviewed him, wanting to dig deeper into the artist’s motivation to explore such topics, but also faced a question that most people have: “Is this person real?”

Below are excerpts from the various interviews:

What is the artistic background of June Korea?

June Korea received a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering in Korea. After moving to the United States in 2009, he obtained a BA in Photography and Film at the California Art Center School of Design, and expanded his studies in related fields at the School of Visual Arts in New York with a MA in Photography, Video and Film. related media.

Why are you so obsessed with photographing sex dolls?

The project started a few weeks after his last romance in June, when he was writing a master’s thesis, which was heartbreaking. The work created comes from a time of emotional struggle, not a time of emotional stability.

June has been photographing dolls since 2001, just as he did when he was a child, observing their secret lives. He has been using them into photography for several years now. After that, he started asking himself: “Why should I take pictures of the doll?”

For him, it was loneliness. He has an active social life, but when he wakes up from bed, he finds himself at home alone; when he comes home from get off work or a party, he always faces emptiness and feels alone in crowds, those people, those moments , those memories he wished to live forever were either gone or gone, and he knew others would do the same.That’s why I got interested filming sex dolls Because objects that look like humans but are inanimate never go away.

Are you buying a sex doll for filming, or do you want to buy it yourself?

After deciding to create this piece, June researched a lot of dolls to find one that looked the most human. Then, he received a huge box, and when he was about to open the box, his hand trembled slightly.

The name “Eva” is a combination of the words “Forever” and “Eve” – ​​according to the creation myth of the Abrahamic religion, Eve was the first woman. Eva and Joan developed an incredible relationship. They sleep together, wake up together, shop together, eat together, drive together, and even travel together. Just like ordinary people, they would laugh and cry together, feeling happy and alone.

What is their relationship? What does Eva mean to June?

June’s purpose isn’t to show a real-life relationship: he’s a creator, a fantasy they’ve built together. In the real life world, Eva has no real life. He’s waiting for Google to implant AlphaGo into Aiwawa’s body. So an imaginary world is created through photography. In a sense, June gave birth to Eva.

Eva and June are metaphors: metaphors for their emotions and their relationship to humans, cats, dogs, artificial intelligence and ordinary people living in this lonely world.

So what is the ultimate goal for June?

June believes that artificial intelligence will be implanted in human but non-human bodies, and sex dolls may be the only choice. Technology evolves beyond our expectations, it may happen in 10 years, or it may take 5 years to see some progress. He firmly believes that art must prepare for new generations and new types of relationships, and deal with new themes related to our emotions, morals and lives.

What inspired him and did he try to imitate other photographers?

For June, the main influences are not tangible references or influences, but emotions experienced in everyday life, relationships or the environment. He is translating these intangible influences into his own visual elements, metaphors and narratives. His works are sponges that absorb self-feelings and mirrors that reflect self.

What role do dolls play in modern society? What are their shortcomings?

Since he started creating, he has been researching the sex doll industry and the people who live with dolls. Global markets and populations continue to grow.interesting people buy love doll Not just for sex, but for their true partnership. This gives the doll a new identity that feels comfortable and comforting.

The phenomenon can be embarrassing, like people’s first impressions of Eva. Some people may think they are freaks, perverts, or mentally handicapped. However, no, they are just the lonely people around us – sometimes including ourselves. Sometimes they want someone to be with them, but they may be too sad or sociopathic to be in a relationship with a real person. Love dolls may be to them what pets are to others.

But Joan would ask herself, “What if I create an artificial eternity? What if he gives the love doll a new life, a new identity? What if I leave that person forever in the fantasy world I’ve built?”