Between March 29 and April 4, 2016, activist and artist Heezy Yang transformed into his alter ego, the drag queen Hurricane Kimchi and embarked on a performance art tour in Seoul to raise awareness for LGBT rights. I reached out to the artist and received permission to photograph while the tour was in progress.
Because drag queens are still relatively new to the conservative country, the idea of this performance art tour was born out of the need to not only publicly show that sexual minorities exist in Korea, but also to bring encouragement to its gay community. Of his mission to foster equality during this time of Korea’s expanding modernization, Yang says, “I wanted to let other sexual minorities know — the frustrated and lonely people who are hiding their sexual orientation — that they are not alone; that there are others fighting for the advancement of rights for sexual minorities.”
These are the days and nights of a hurricane: Portraits from a drag queen’s Seoul.
Because drag queens are still relatively new to the conservative country, the idea of this performance art tour was born out of the need to not only publicly show that sexual minorities exist in Korea, but also to bring encouragement to its gay community. Of his mission to foster equality during this time of Korea’s expanding modernization, Yang says, “I wanted to let other sexual minorities know — the frustrated and lonely people who are hiding their sexual orientation — that they are not alone; that there are others fighting for the advancement of rights for sexual minorities.”
These are the days and nights of a hurricane: Portraits from a drag queen’s Seoul.
Wig adjustments behind the curtain at club DGBD in Hongdae.
Police confrontation in the streets of Dongdaemun.
Waiting for the metro in Gwanghwamun.
Final touches before a performance.
In a taxi heading to Gyeongbokgung Palace, to which access was denied and photography prohibited.
Hurricane Kimchi inside the entrance of Dongdaemun Design Plaza.
Blowing a kiss to the camera.
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