As is evident in my post on perceptions of beauty, I am fascinated by the way that appearance, status and success are intertwined in Korea.

It is with great interest that I read about The Natural Beauty Project by photographer Aoife Casey, a series of photographs of Korean women who have opted not to have cosmetic surgery. The work is the artist’s reaction to the influence that plastic surgery has on contemporary culture. While the concept of “natural beauty” invites a debate about whether beauty practices are natural in themselves, the project succeeds in giving a voice to those who oppose the growing convention of plastic surgery in South Korea. And the photographs are powerful. Casey’s use of black and white emphasises each subject’s character rather than her appearance, which adds dimension to the medium.

Those who missed the recent exhibition in Seoul can see many of the pics on the project’s Facebook page.