Welcome to the fashion show of ghosts, where clothes sprinkled with blood fill the runway with an ambiguous sense of terror. This special exhibition portrays standing figures of clothes without human bodies, which are the artworks of South Korean artist Ahn Chang Hong. Currently, about 150 pieces of his work are displayed at the Ghost Fashion hosted by the Savina Museum in Seoul. The exhibition mainly portrays Ahn’s distinct interpretations of social phenomena and current issues and delivers his powerful message about the underlying human psychology of our contemporary life, including the darkest parts of human desires.

As an artist, Ahn has been creating artworks that reflect the emotions of loneliness and alienation, a side effect of the fast-paced modern society of South Korea. The sense of paranoia and being marginalized from society has usually been portrayed by paintings of bleak, empty facial expressions of humans. For the Ghost Fashion, Ahn challenges himself by erasing the physical body — the existence that symbolizes the unique characters of individuals — to emphasize the leftover illusion and the meaningless shell of a society captured in capitalism and rapid development. As such, Ahn’s defiant and unconventional artworks demonstrate how carefully he investigates his surroundings and captures the changing human behavior and psychology of modern society.

Introducing the Ghost Fashion

Ahn’s works of ghost fashion are adept at quickly capturing the audience’s attention with colorful, fancy yet eerie designs of clothing. To create these mesmerizing pieces, Ahn used his smartphone to collect images for reference, then drew over the images using a digital pen. After painting each figure, he erased the physical body, which created what he calls a ghost fashion. As such, the painting method itself is a point to notice, as the process of creating an artwork demonstrates the overall theme of the exhibition: the cross-section of a society in which individuality is excluded.

For example, one of his oil paintings at the exhibition portrays a fashion show where clothes without human bodies walk on the runway. Ahn includes minuscule details in his painting, such as small stitches and wrinkles in clothing that make the painting look even more realistic. The deep mustard-colored trench coat is splattered with black paint from the top to the bottom as if someone is bleeding. Likewise, the uncanny features of ghost-like figures arouse mixed emotions of curiosity and fear. In the painting, a unique contrast is formed between the show’s audience — humans with their complete physical bodies — and the walking clothes. Ordinary audience behaviors that spotlight the clothes such as taking photos create subtle reluctance, as no one seems aware of the missing human existence. As such, Ahn’s intention to criticize materialism and the absurd desire for pretentious adornments including outfits is revealed.

At the Ghost Fashion, the audience may feel overwhelmed by an odd feeling of pressure created by Ahn's enormous three-dimensional artwork, Mask. Large masks decorated in striking colors of yellow, red, and blue fill the walls of the museum. As if being controlled by an authoritarian figure, most of the masks wear eye bandages. On their foreheads, there are small keyholes that symbolize the limited point of view and the locked thinking process of people living in a capitalist society where everything is controlled by money and power. Among the blinded masks, some are in tears of black and red paint, while a single mask opens its eyes widely and stares into the air. The presence of a dissimilar mask can be interpreted in multiple ways; for example, it may represent a form of rebellion against the homogenized behaviors and mindsets of people living in capitalism.

Uncovering the Significance of Ghost Fashion

The original Ghost Fashion exhibition was held last year at the Guayasamin Museum in Quito, Ecuador. This was the first exhibition of a foreign artist to be held since Francisco Goya, and it has opened the channel of cultural exchange between Ecuador and Korea. Therefore, Ghost Fashion is not only aesthetically pleasing but also internationally important as it celebrates the 60th anniversary of Korea and Ecuador’s establishment of diplomatic relations.

However, Ghost Fashion at the Savina Museum slightly differs from the original exhibition held in Ecuador. In the current exhibition, Ahn has widened the scope of his art materials by using digital media to exhibit his original pen sketch of the ghost fashions. The Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) displays present a slideshow of his sketches. On the other side of the OLED displays, a small room is open for visitors to watch a short video of Ahn’s work procedures and the behind-the-scenes of his creations. Likewise, the exhibition not only pleases the audience visually but also provides a multi-sensory experience by wisely using the space and medium of art.

In addition, Ahn has transformed his two-dimensional oil paintings and pen sketch into three-dimensional sculptures. Unlike flat structures, solid forms enable the audience to move around the artwork, providing them a new way of enjoying art. Moreover, the three-dimensional works make the artworks seem even more realistic, eventually increasing the sense of fear. It is likely a part of Ahn’s intention to create stronger emotional reactions among the audience so that they actively communicate his works and truly enjoy the exhibition.

All in all, Ghost Fashion is a collection of Ahn’s reinterpretations of existing social phenomenon. He seizes the opportunity of observing the *hidden parts* of our society, including human psychological and behavioral aspects, through his keen insight. As he comments, “I had planned to draw a *ghost city* for a very long time, and this *Ghost Fashion* exhibition is just the beginning of my ghost paintings,” Ahn’s attempts at capturing the leftover reality of this rapidly changing society will continue.

Exhibition Information:

Title: Ghost Fashion

Venue: Savina Museum

Date: February 23, 2022 to May 29, 2022 (Closed every Monday)

Opening Hours: 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M.

Ticket Price: 7000 won (19 years old and up)