Experimental nominee

Déjà vu, meaning "already seen" in French, refers to the eerie sensation of having experienced a new situation before, even though it's entirely unfamiliar. The use of black and white backgrounds in this work symbolizes the duality of good and evil, providing a stark contrast that guides decisions and choices with clarity. In this minimalistic space, the protagonist—depicted only in silhouette—elicits empathy, drawing from real figures captured in photojournalism and documentary imagery. This narrative belongs exclusively to the realm of photography, telling a story that cannot be found in dreams, memories, or imagination. However, if the viewer experiences a moment of recognition or reflection—even briefly—then the déjà vu within the photograph dissolves. It is in this fleeting pause, where familiarity meets the unknown, that the illusion of déjà vu is both felt and released.

Cho Hyun Young completed the Chung-Ang University Center of Photography program and earned her Ph.D. in Digital Imaging from Sangmyung University. She participated in the Nanjing International Photography Festival in 2019, followed by completing the Gil Fineart program. In 2023, she exhibited at the Photography in Contemporary Art exhibition at the Seoul Arts Center. Her work focuses on the social role of photography, and she captures real yet distant images through collaborations with news agencies and other institutions.