Identification of an Unknown Artist by Jae In Lee

As though submitting a resumé to the world, unknown Korean artists share their stories and the stories of their work through ID photos without faces.

The ID photo is an image of the upper body centred on the expressionless face looking ahead. It focuses on the face whose emotions are erased for the purpose of identification. The image standards vary slightly depending on the uses of the image, passports, visas, resident registration cards.

I understand the ID photo as a medium that connects individuals within society, allowing them to quickly identify themselves and what they do, whilst also showing part of themselves as they transform internal image regulations to meet the external image standards.