Bang Sanghyeok is a photographer from South Korea. His photography isn’t hard to notice. It’s dark. It’s messy. It’s dramatic. Unlike a photo you might see in Playboy, his photos don’t obliterate the organ of volition or soul from nakedness.
He finds the absolute zero of it: the wonder of baring who you are. As a result, the women he photographs are incandescent and vulnerable, their stares burning through the photos.
In their stark blacks and whites, he’s captured a brutal spirit of stripping away pretense. In this interview, we will learn more about his photography journey.
Q.1 How did you first get into photography?
Ans. I first picked up a camera in my early twenties, using my father’s old gear.
Q.2 I got the idea that you’re a very intense person from looking through your work. I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re the type of guy who writes a good fucking poem every once and a while. How did you get your start with photography? How would you describe your work?
Ans. Yes, I do draw or write sometimes but I can’t say I’m great at these. I started photography when my father gave me a camera. I can say that my work is me. They are my thoughts, what I Iike, my tastes, my feelings and situations.
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Q. 3 Was your father a photographer? Why did he give you a camera?
Ans. It would be nice if there was an amazing romantic story but there isn’t. He just bought it for himself but told me I might use it more and gave it to me.
Q. 4 You live in South Korea. Could you talk about how your sensual portrait photography is received there? How’s the photography scene?
Ans. It is hard to say how my work is received in Korea. Some people think that it’s vulgar, and some people see it as art. How I feel is that there are many people that have a prejudice of the word nudity. That it is vulgar. It is very difficult to do nudity photography here. Many people think that they will become like a porn actress.
Q. 5 They’ve grown into seeing nudity as pornographic, you mean? Not something beautiful and natural as you said earlier?
Ans. Porn is one part of a big range of nudity. And for people who have only accessed nudity by porn can easily think that nudity is equal to porn. I also first learned about nudity by porn, but I realized that porn was only a small part of nudity. And what I want to show is that nudity with sexual aspects can be shown in a different form of art.
Q. 6 What inspires your sensual portrait photography the most—people, places, emotions?
Ans. It’s the connection—especially with someone I love. That’s where most of the inspiration comes from.
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Q.7 Do you think experiencing love — at least once — is important to creating great art?
Ans. I don’t think experiencing love is necessary to make art. Art is not only about love. But experiences surely affect your work. So if you experience love you can surely create a work touched by love.
Q.8 What do you do when you’re not taking photos?
Ans. I usually spend time at home watching anime, reading manga or novels, or just getting lost in YouTube.
Q.9 Your early career included working on album cover art. How did that experience shape your visual language?
Ans. I’ve worked on a number of album covers, but I don’t really place much meaning on that part of my work.
Q.10 What’s one thing people would be surprised to learn about you?
Ans. Apparently, I’ve got quite a bit of charm… or as the kids say, some serious rizz. [laughs]
Q.11 How do you prefer to relax after a long day of shoot?
Ans. If the shoot went well, I like to unwind by reviewing the photos afterward.
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Q.12 Do you like working alone, or do you enjoy working with a team?
Ans. I prefer working alone. I’m quite introverted, so that suits me best.
Q.13 Your website features a poetic statement: “When the light disappears, everything loses color.” How does this philosophy inform your approach to light and shadow in your photographic work?
Ans. It’s difficult for me to put my work into words. I feel that when light disappears in the physical world, everything loses its color. This idea translates into my preference for black-and-white photography. Of course, it can be interpreted in many ways. I first truly felt this when my dog — the life I loved most — passed away. When that life was gone and death lingered nearby, that’s when I understood this feeling.
Q.14 Do you think photos can say things that words can’t?
Ans. Absolutely. I’m not very fluent with words, and I often struggle to organize my thoughts verbally. I’d much rather be seen through my photographs than through words.
Q.15 How do you see AI and digital art influencing the future of photography?
Ans. There are both positive and negative aspects to consider. However, just because creating images has become easier and more convenient doesn’t mean the value of photographic art has diminished. It simply means we have more options to explore. Artists need to separate the technical from the artistic,
and approach the technical side with an open mind.
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Q.16 What’s one thing you always carry with you on a shoot?
Ans. A cigarette and a lighter.
Q.17 How would you describe your style to someone seeing your work for the first time?
Ans. I don’t really like to describe my style, partly because I’m not great at it. I’m just grateful that people interpret my photos in their own unique ways and perspectives.
Q.18 What advice would you give to someone just starting out in this field?
Ans. Honestly, it’s not so much that I want to do this work — it’s more that it’s the only thing I feel I can do. As for advice, I believe the best thing is simply to keep going consistently.
Q.19 Do you have any upcoming exhibitions or projects we should look out for?
Ans. I don’t have any exhibitions planned at the moment. In my twenties, I was passionate about taking photos, but my thirties have been more about organizing and reflecting on many things. For now, I expect to focus more on new projects rather than exhibitions.
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Q.20 Lastly, how do you see your sensual portrait photography style evolving in the next few years?
Ans. I’m already seeing changes in my photography. There have been significant shifts in my life recently, and I believe those will be reflected in the new work to come. I’m not exactly sure how my style will evolve, but I hope it will be a natural progression, and that I’ll be able to embrace my new work fully.
You can see more of Bang Rang’s work and sensual portrait photography here!
