Rene Magritte paintings recreated by renowned Korean photographer Kim Jung-man


The celebrated photographer Kim Jung-man has always photographed objects as they are, without alteration. But for the first time in his 38-year career, he had to use Photoshop editing techniques to recreate paintings of Belgian Surrealist painter Rene Magritte with photographs.

“The recreation of one of the greatest artists was meaningful because no one has ever tried to do it before,” Kim said at a news conference last week. “I think I am the first photographer in the world to have recreated paintings by Rene Magritte.”

Kim showcases 23 photographic recreations of Rene Magritte paintings at the exhibition organized by KT&G Sangsang Madang gallery, Korean fashion brand Louis Quatorze and Kim’s own studio Velvet Underground. All proceeds will be donated to UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund.

He chose Magritte who utilized representational objects, which broke standards of dream-like fantasies of the Surrealist movement. Like the artist from the early 20th century who shook up the Surrealist style, Kim hopes the new challenge pushes the limit of his photography and helps him better understand the world.

“I could have chosen Picasso or Matisse, but I liked the fact that Magritte is a Surrealist artist,” said Kim. 

“(What I liked about him was that) I was able to see also realistic characteristics in the Surrealist painting,” said Kim referring to everyday objects Magritte used such as a glass, apple and pipe in his paintings.

A documentary film playing inside the exhibition hall offers behind the scenes look at Kim’s working process. He made objects including a white dove, one of the most representative subjects of Magritte’s paintings, a trumpet aflame, and a model dressed in a Magritte-era suit.

“The hardest part was getting into the world of Rene Magritte. I continued to imagine the world in which Magritte lived and drew. And now I show you the process of how I found the answer,” said Kim.

Kim recreated the objects Magritte drew using very little Photoshop manipulation. And the result is more polished, realistic images of Magritte’s famous paintings including “The Treason of the Pictures (This is not a Pipe),” “The Big Family,” “The Lovers” and more.

He said he enjoyed the time remaking famous works of art into photos ― a rare joy he has felt in his photography career.

“Photography work is painful for me. But I felt delighted during the whole working process,” Kim said. “I felt delighted for the fact that I can try something new, breaking away from the routine of my photography work.”

What kept him joyful was finding out what he can do with his camera and show to the people.

“It has been a great gift and opportunity for me to broaden my limited understanding and insight of the world and explore what photography can do,” said Kim. “If you ask me what I can do with the camera, I think I can draw ink-and-wash paintings with it.”

The exhibition continues through Oct. 31 at KT&G Sangsang Madang in Mapo, Seoul.

For more information, call (02) 330-6223. 

By Lee Woo-young (wylee@heraldcorp.com)