what is “skinship” for queer korean men?
here are the boys of seoul —
“Skinship” is a form of intimacy shown between Korean men to exhibit affection in friendships. After rounds of soju, you’ll see fathers and grandfathers hold hands, pull each other in by their thighs.
From a modern linguistic standpoint, I like to believe this formed because Korean society emotively expresses itself in roundabout ways. For example, an apology is a plate of fruit. Thank you’s after a funeral are little boxes of rice cakes. Don’t ask, “How are you?” Rather, you ask, “Have you eaten yet?” But signs of deep-rooted friendships exist when hands are held. This shows up as early as in teenage boys, though it’s an art that is slowly dying as we reach a digital world where intimacy is gone and dry. But I’ve often wondered, what is skinship for queer Korean men?
With four years in the making, Lindsay Ryklief’s photography has finally graced a generous presence at Cabinet Club, a gallery hidden in the residential hills of Seodaemun-gu. Starting off as an Instagram account, his subjects usually include queer Korean bodies together. We see intimacy, bare skin, true colors, tattoos, men pure at heart, boys wildly themselves.
A friend remarked that his photography reminded her of Ren Hang as some of the subjects are playfully displayed in nature, where body and lush landscapes meet in harmony. His subjects are rarely far away. They are up close and personal, portraits that look deep into the thickness of skin, and examine all the stitchings in the thin veil of identity. In a world where masks are often worn in group settings, this speaks volumes. All the men you see in the rooms are simply themselves.
Ryklief has always played a part in the queer community in Seoul, Itaewon especially. Gay clubs remain as safe spaces because of people like him, promoting skinship that feels separately safe for queer folks here.
You can find “Boys of Seoul” at Cabinet Club from June 5th to June 20th, 2021.
