‘‘My photography is a mirror of my inner self.’’
—Rala Choi
For Korean artist Rala Choi (b.1987), the image-making process begins with exploring his innermost thoughts and feelings. Portraying universal human emotions, Choi brings to life scenes he has previously sketched. Here, we see the juxtaposition of a seemingly forlorn figure of a woman lying down with one arm covering her eyes against the dazzling gold of her dress and the bold red of her lipstick and the fabric draped across the sofa. ‘I want my photography to embody contradictory emotions,’ explains the artist, ‘such as loneliness and warmth.’ He continues, ‘The act of lying down is typically associated with comfort or relief; however, I saw my own emptiness and depression through looking at her lying down.’ Shot using film, this striking image encapsulates the self-taught photographer’s painterly aesthetic and skilful use of colours to achieve maximum expressiveness. Based in Seoul, Rala Choi has exhibited internationally and was awarded the Photography Grand Prix at the 37th International Festival of Fashion, Photography and Accessories, Hyères in 2022.