Michelle Im’s solo exhibition, “Hello Goodbye,” at Dimin in New York showcases her unique terracotta flight attendants, each standing at just under four feet tall. Inspired by the Xi’an terracotta soldiers, these hand-built figures wear Korean Air uniforms and exude a graphic, rather than lifelike, quality. The exhibition features nine attendants, each with their own name and pose, such as Geum-Bi with a teapot and Chae-Ri with a bottle of wine. Im’s attention to detail is evident in the intricate features of each figure, from shirt buttons to folded lapels.
Im’s fascination with flight attendants stems from her experiences traveling between the United States and South Korea, her two homelands. Over the years, her work has evolved from painting flight attendants on ceramic vessels to creating full-length figures like those in the exhibition. The smaller scale of the figures is significant, challenging traditional representations of Asian femininity and inviting viewers to engage with the uncanny nature of the work.
Flight attendants, as service workers, engage in affective labor, where their smiles and demeanor are crucial to their job performance. Im’s figures, with their painted-on smiles, raise questions about the emotions they may be concealing behind their cheerful facade. The exhibition highlights the power dynamics at play in the service industry, where attendants provide comfort on their own terms, often masking their own fatigue and frustrations.
The installation of the exhibition places the figures at eye level with the viewer, emphasizing their presence and inviting contemplation of the complex emotions they may be experiencing. Im’s work prompts viewers to consider the labor and control inherent in service work, challenging perceptions of hospitality and highlighting the hidden tensions within the industry.
“Hello Goodbye” is on display at Dimin in Tribeca, Manhattan, until July 11. Im’s thought-provoking exhibition offers a unique perspective on the service industry and invites viewers to engage with the complexities of emotional labor and control in the world of flight attendants.
