Evoking before and after surgical advertising in Seoul, The Multiverse Portraits imagine parallel universes, and embody several probable portraits of the artist in co-existing self-contained realities. Inspired by the discussions for and against the competing particle physics theories, Multiverse and Supersymmetry, RHEE employs her absurd quasi-scientific system to evaluate her transnational life story in her art praxis, with work that reacts to such profound natural scientific hypotheses with peculiar humour and analysis.
The Multiverse (2015–16)
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The Multiverse Portraits, 2015-16, photography (6) and drawings (2), various dimensions, installation view: Where Are We Now, Neuer Berlin Kunstverein, Berlin, 2016, curated by Frank Wagner and Silke Wittig, Photo: Jens Ziehe
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/katehersrhee/image/fetch/w_1200,c_limit,f_auto/https://katehersrhee.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/1a_SPfront.jpg)
The Multiverse Portraits: The Ethnic Hardening Universe, 2015, graphite on paper, framed (2), 42 x 59.4 cm, photo: Aleks Slota
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/katehersrhee/image/fetch/w_1200,c_limit,f_auto/https://katehersrhee.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/1b_SPside.jpg)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/katehersrhee/image/fetch/w_1200,c_limit,f_auto/https://katehersrhee.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/3b_head_side_after_0-1.jpg)
The Multiverse Portraits: The Gangnam Universe, 2016, photo print mounted on aluminum, framed, 42 x 59.4 cm
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The Multiverse Portraits: The Reality Universe, 2015, photo print mounted on aluminum, framed, 42 x 59.4 cm
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/katehersrhee/image/fetch/w_1200,c_limit,f_auto/https://katehersrhee.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/2a_head_front_before_0.jpg)
The Multiverse Portraits: The Reality Universe, 2015, photo print mounted on aluminum, framed, 42 x 59.4 cm
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/katehersrhee/image/fetch/w_1200,c_limit,f_auto/https://katehersrhee.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/3a_head_front_after_0-1.jpg)
The Multiverse Portraits: The Gangnam Universe, 2016, photo print mounted on aluminum, framed, 42 x 59.4 cm
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/katehersrhee/image/fetch/w_1200,c_limit,f_auto/https://katehersrhee.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/4b_full_body_after_0.jpg)
The Multiverse Portraits: The Gangnam Universe, 2016, photo print mounted on aluminum, framed, 180 x 63 cm
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/katehersrhee/image/fetch/w_1200,c_limit,f_auto/https://katehersrhee.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/4a_full_body_before_0.jpg)
The Multiverse Portraits: The Reality Universe, 2015, photo print mounted on aluminum, framed, 172 x 63 cm