mino for dazed, october 2018

" STRANGER? "

MINO x DAZED x BALENCIAGA x WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME

- Song Min Ho, clad in Balenciaga, drops straight down into the middle of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) Korea office located on the outskirts of Mt. Gwanak. -

 

DAZED: When I see you nowadays, I get the feeling that you're sharper, more distinct.

MINHO: How did you notice? That's so cool that you can feel that.

 

DZ: Like I said, it's just a feeling.

MN: Well, it's not like there was a single incident that made it that way. So I can't really tell you any specifics but... how should I put it, it's as though I've climbed the mountain, persevered, and now I'm free? Like I've become a butterfly. Although, in some ways, I may still be a caterpillar. I feel like I think more deeply about things now.

 

DZ: The word deficiency just came to mind. What do you think?

MN: I think the emotion of deficiency is a complicated one. Nowadays, if I'm unable to solve a curiosity, I find myself being unable to do anything else. It seems like that could be related to a sort of deficiency. But it's because of such reasons that I adopted photography and art as my hobbies.

 

DZ: You think a certain person is like A until you see their A' side instead. We got to see a different side of Song Min Ho through the song, 'FEAR'. Are you tired of that now?

MN: Questions regarding that song? I don't mind. It's straightforward, really. I'm naturally someone who fears a lot of things, but I've inevitably had to live acting like I was strong and tough. Eventually though, I reached a point where hiding that true side of me became difficult.

 

DZ: So do you continue to have many fears?

MN: Yes, I do.

 

DZ: What are you fearful of?

MN: I'm not scared of trying new things. Nor is it something I am fearful of. But I think I do find myself getting easily swept up in the judgments and opinions that come out as a result of me trying those new things. It's scary. I also fear hurting others, because that's not something I want to do. Of course, it's not always so easy.

 

DZ: How's your perseverance?

MN: Dare I say -- my perseverance is incredible.

 

DZ: Do you think that's a good thing?

MN: I used to. But at a certain point I realized that that's not the answer. There are times when you must stick to something until the end, but there are also times when there's no point of continuing to put up with it. I have the courage nowadays to just drop those kinds of situations now.

 

DZ: Do you continue to take photographs? With your Leicas, as usual?

MN: I have a variety of cameras. Most of them are film, but recently I've been trying to collect really old cameras. You know, the kinds that seem to have been used by an actual war correspondent in a war zone.

 

DZ: It seems like you've been into twin-lens reflex cameras recently?

MN: How did you know?

 

DZ: I overheard you showing one of them off earlier.

MN: There's a photographer I like named Vivian Maier. She used the Rolleiflex twin-lens reflex camera for her photos, and I became curious. I used to just stick to 35mm films, but as it happened I began to be curious then about medium-format films with big-film specifications. They're very appealing.

 

DZ: Have your standards become clearer now for what kind of subjects you want to take photos of, or what kind of subjects you feel drawn to?

MN: Yes, but well, they're still obvious. When you first start taking photos you take a lot of time with the focus and exposure, and you end up taking a lot of photos of subjects that can stay still –– like a streetlamp for instance. Nowadays, out of habit, I always take photos of the chaotic backstage and the people on the scene. And clouds that are beautifully afloat.

 

DZ: What have you taken a photo of most recently? Whether it be with the Leica or the Rolleiflex or whatever else. 

MN: People.

 

DZ: You once said that whatever you can't express through your lyrics, you express through your art. Are these feelings that can be verbalized?

MN: Art for me is my hobby, not my job. I think that's why I am able to be more free with it and lay out whatever I want. There are no expectations on the final product. 

 

DZ: You like blue roses, right?

MN: Yes, they're my favorite kind of flower.

 

DZ: Why the blue roses?

MN: I got really into them at the beginning of the year. The meaning of the flower really resonated with me.

 

DZ: What would that be?

MN: Apparently, it used to mean 'something impossible'. But I heard that the meaning changed recently so that it meant 'miracle' and 'hope'. I just really liked that.

 

DZ: You got to wear Balenciaga today. Do you like the brand?

MN: Yes, of course. I like its uniqueness, confidence, and boldness. It pursues new-ness without forcing in something fake. It feels like the real deal is to make something that's completely new.

 

DZ: Many of the pieces from the 'Balenciaga 2018 Winter Collection' that you got to wear today have on them the logo of the UN World Food Programme (WFP), the world's largest humanitarian organization working towards creating a world without starvation. If you buy any clothing article with the logo on it, 10% of the cost will automatically be donated to the UN World Food Programme (WFP).

MN: I like the purpose of it, and I think it's interesting. All you did was buy pretty clothes but you've also automatically donated. I'm glad I'm able to participate in such a project.

 

DZ: What did you think of where you had your photoshoot today? The UN World Food Programme lent us their Korean office space.

MN: This place isn't a studio setting or anything like that -- it's an actual office space. I was honestly a little surprised earlier when I first walked in and saw that everyone was quietly working. I was surprised again at how they continued to work calmly while the photography team wove around the office to take pictures. It was my first time participating in such a different kind of photoshoot -- I think this one is going to be particularly memorable. Also since there's a lot of significance with the photoshoot, too.

 

DZ: Whether you want it or not, 'Song Min Ho' the individual is someone who wields influence. I've been told you're going to donate your modeling fee.

MN: Honestly, it's not like I made a really tough decision or anything. I just participated because it was such an amazing opportunity. If my heart is able to be of help to anyone and if I'm able to positively influence them, then that's a welcoming and appreciative outcome on my part, too.

 

DZ: Your solo album is going to be out soon. Will it be the A-side of Song Min Ho, or the A'-side?

MN: Neither. I want to show you the 'ㄱ' side instead.

*(ㄱ is the Korean letter equivalent of A)

 

DZ: If you had to choose one sentence you value most from your new song, it would be:

MN: "My two eyes don't seem big enough to behold you."

 

DZ: Do you want to be a good person?

MN: When I got the tattoo that said, 'be nice, be kind', I did so while promising myself to absolutely be a nice human being. But it's a little different now. I'm thinking about adding 'be why' in between those. I've changed to want to live my life based on a reflection of how I view myself, not on the reflection of how others view me. That's where my heart's at right now. That's the decision.