Wrestling In The Streets Of Seoul

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Photographer

Argus Paul Estabrook
Date of Photograph

Apr 30, 2016
Technical Info

Sony A7 w/ 28mm Leica Lens
Socials
Website

https://www.arguspaul.com

Pro Wrestling Fit is a South Korean wrestling group that fights anywhere, be it in a gym, club, or even a busy city street. One of South Korea’s only wrestling organizations, they take on stage names to exaggerate their characters’ personas. Some members even don costumes to further play on their theatrical identities. To promote themselves, the troupe showcases their backyard wrestling style at unorthodox venues. This particular event took place during an underground rock show dubbed, “an unholy unity of music and wrestling.” Between the opening act and the headlining band, the PWF wrestlers were introduced and then immediately started sparring. To the delight of the audience, they quickly took their fight out of the club and into the street. Enticed by its offbeat and overtly masculine nature, the audience couldn’t help but chase after and marvel at this aggressive spectacle.

Biography

I’m an independent photographer who works in South Korea and the USA. As a Korean-American who grew up in a rural area of Virginia, I have a unique perspective of Korean identity and its relationship to both global and regional communities. My work has been awarded by the Magnum Photography Awards, Sony World Photography Awards, LensCulture, PDN, IPA, MIFA, TIFA, as well as selected for inclusion at the 2017 Aperture Summer Open: On Freedom.
Awards

2017 • Magnum Photography Awards | Street Series Winner | 1st Place • Sony World Photography Awards | National Awards: USA | 1st Place • International Photographer Of The Year Awards | Open: Photojournalism / Story | 1st Place • Moscow International Foto Awards | Editorial: Political | 1st Place • Moscow International Foto Awards | Editorial: Sports | 1st Place • International Photography Awards | Editorial: Political | 2nd Place • Tokyo International Foto Awards | Editorial: Political | 2nd Place • StreetFoto San Francisco: International Street Photography Awards | 2nd Place • Monochrome Awards | Photojournalism | 2nd Place • Seventh Annual PDN Exposure Award 2016 • International Photographer Of The Year Awards | People: Street | 1st Place • Tokyo International Foto Awards | Events: Sports | 2nd Place • Moscow International Foto Awards | People: Life Style | 2nd Place • International Photography Awards | Editorial: Personality | 3rd Place • Sixth Annual PDN Exposure Award 2015 • International Photography Awards | Event: Other | 2nd Place --Full CV at http://www.arguspaul.com/cv.html