Hanna Moon and Joyce Ng explore what it feels like to be 'Lost in Translation'

The show sees acclaimed Asian-born, London-based creatives Hanna Moon and Joyce Ng, responding directly to Somerset House's historical setting with a new series of works commissioned by the venue. Employing an otherworldly and playful approach, they will incorporate visitors, cultural icons, fashion and their own cultural signifiers to present their unique take on Western aesthetics and fashion ideals.

Exploring the artists' feelings of being "lost in translation", a feeling which as immigrants based here in the UK, the exhibition informs their search for capturing beauty in the "often overlooked and unseen stories in our everyday lives".

As Somerset House explains, "As two pioneering fashion photographers operating within the Western fashion system bringing distinct Asian perspectives to their work, the exhibition challenges the concept of 'otherness'. The images will invite viewers to question what it means for artists to be labelled as 'diverse' when using models, props and locations native to their heritage, and to reflect upon the power fashion photography holds in shifting our perceptions of beauty, style and taste."

Joyce Ng uses street-cast models, natural environments and props to create images which feel both familiar, yet surreal. For this show, she will cast solely from Somerset House's vibrant community across a four-week period, inviting people that visit and inhabit the space to take part in a series of shoots on-site.

Hanna Moon, meanwhile, will similarly utilise the neo-classical architecture of Somerset House to capture imagery of her two muses: Moffy, from London, and Heejin from South Korea, who she shares with Joyce. Tender and intimate, the images will be taken in and around Somerset House's public and hidden spaces.

Hanna Moon & Joyce Ng: English as a Second Language at Somerset House runs from 25 January until 28 April 2019. Discover more at somersethouse.org.uk.