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Dafen Oil Painting Village in Shenzhen, China is the world’s largest oil painting market. Cheap oil paintings for fast consumption are produced in this village and are exported to the world. The painters here work in old and small rooms or in narrow alleyways between buildings, instead of elegant ateliers. They duplicate commonplace patterns or copy famous paintings repeatedly all day long. For these people, painting is not art but labor. They are more like factory laborers than artists. What I saw there were the artists surviving their life with all their effort – the laborers, not the decorated artists with elegance and stylishness. Probably this could be the most instinctive and honest feature of art. I wanted to express the impression as much as I could. So, I captured a close-up of their faces with dignity of labor by minimizing any background or decoration.

About author:

I am a Korean photographer and photo critic. I majored in fine art and photography in Hongik University, Korea and got a doctor’s degree in Art Plastic. I am the first doctor in photography in Korea and now teaching students in universities while working as photographer and photo critic. Furthermore, I have published many books and photo albums, for example 'Photo – Theory and Practice', 'A Guide to Photo Viewing', and 'Seoul by Night'.

[Awards]
* 2017 IPOTY - Honorable Mention - People: Portrait
* 2017 IPOTY - Honorable Mention - Fine Art: Landscapes

* 2017 Monochrome Awards - Honorable Mention - Photojournalism

* 2017 ND awards - Honorable Mention - Editorial : Documentary
* 2017 ND awards - Honorable Mention - Architecture : Bridges
* 2017 ND awards - Honorable Mention - Fine Art : Abstract
* 2017 ND awards - Honorable Mention - Editorial : General News
* 2017 ND awards - Honorable Mention - Architecture : Other
* 2017 ND awards - Honorable Mention - Special : Night Photography

* IPA 2017 - 3rd Prize Winner - Event : Social Cause Category
* IPA 2017 - 3rd Prize Winner - Architecture : Historic Category
* IPA 2017 - Honorable Mention - Architecture : Bridges Category
* IPA 2017 - Honorable Mention - People : Children Category
* IPA 2017 - Honorable Mention - Event : Social Cause Category
* IPA 2017 - Honorable Mention - Special : Night Photography Category

* Prix de la Photographie Paris 2017 - Honorable Mention - Press : General News Category

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