Taemin Ha « Chose Commune

Taemin Ha

Taemin Ha (born in 1995 in Gunsan) is a South Korean photographer based in Seoul.

– Home and studio — together or apart?

I’ve never had my own studio. It has always been my room or a favorite cafe, basically anywhere I can pull out my laptop. I might plan to get a proper workspace in a few years, but not anytime soon.

– Do you have any daily rituals?

I always start my day with an apple, and end it with eye drops before I fall asleep. I recently moved to new place in Seoul, and there’s a stream in front of my home. I’ve been enjoying walking by the stream these days.

– What is the first art book you remember?

I wasn’t familiar with art books in my childhood since I didn’t have any photography background. In my early 20s, during my mandatory military service, my senior showed me Cindy Sherman’s book. I think that was the first time I ever read an art book. He recommended a photobook store in Seoul, which I visited on my first holiday during military service. That’s how I started to love photobooks. I remember I was fascinated by the books of Josef Koudelka, Mark Steinmetz, and Chris Killip.

– What is your studio/creative soundtrack?

I haven’t explored new music lately. I’m quite stuck with my old playlist. I usually listen to Brian Eno, Beverly Glenn-Copeland, and George Clanton, as if meditating, and also a lot of music by Mitski and Silica Gel.

– What is the favorite thing you have in your studio?

My dog and the photobooks I’ve collected.

– Did you always want to be an artist?
It’s a bit of difficult question. In my childhood, I always wanted to be someone who made things, though I’m not sure if that meant being an artist. Even now, I consider myself more of a photographer than an artist.

– What does a free day look like?

Watching movies in a row at a small independent theater brings me a lot of joy.