LEE JOON GI
IN
GQ PHOTO SHOOT
A PASTEL COLOUR PALETTE
LIKE NO OTHER
GQ, together with Lee Joon Gi, dictates fashion with pastel colour
magic in the photo shoot for the July 2020 issue. The celebration of the pastel colour palette
by GQ marks a radical departure from what has appeared before in men’s
magazines. By injecting a variety of pastel hues into their images, GQ dispels the popular idea that pastels are reserved exclusively for the gentle sex. Pastels tell stories of duality. Pastel colours, such as
pale pink, pale lemon and pale green have a dual personality which is vibrant yet
soothing. Generally, the colours in men’s magazines are either bold,
bright, vibrant or edgy with lots of blacks. Though GQ has not neglected the high contrast palette of
muted hues and edgy black in the photo shoot, there is
plenty of experimentation with different blends of pastels which is not a
familiar sight in men's magazines. With Lee as GQ’s July muse, the pastel-coloured narrative is worth telling.
Lee Joon Gi lounges sexily on a sofa seat; the martial arts hero is striking and sensuous in the high-contrast image. The sand beige sofa is set against a pale grey background. Vibrant, yet soothing. The provocative image of the athletic and agile Lee, in a pair of neutral-colured beige pants teamed with a black shirt and black shoes, oozes masculinity. Normally, men would match black pants with beige shirts and not the other way around. The fashion editor has married cool muted beige and grey colours with edgy black to create a sense of duality. In psychology, white or paler colours represent purity and black symbolises mystery and darkness. Beige allows a subject to blend in easily with the background. 
The next shot is a high-contrast shot. It sees Lee
in a totally black outfit standing against a muted grey background. A black coat.
A black turtle-neck sweater. A pair of black trousers. The black creates an
edgy masculine feel.
The third shot features Lee in a black leather jacket which is
teamed with black pants and black boots. His light grey shirt presents a
startling contrast to the rest of his outfit. Lee squats on a yellow pavement
with thick lines which sits near a wall with thin lines. The contrasts are
stark. Thin lines versus thick lines. Black versus yellow and grey.
The theme of duality is also clear in the images of the video. To
repeat, pastels have a dual nature. While retaining its colour vibrancy and
brightness that blight other muted tints, pastels have the special quality of
being able to soothe and calm the viewer.
At the opening of the video, a muted olive colour screen provides a perfect backdrop for Lee Joon Gi in his dark grey shirt. He draws attention like a powerful magnet. Masculine, yet mysterious, dark and foreboding. Lee’s broad masculine shoulders and cold looks evoke a minefield of emotions.
Thereafter, Lee appears in differently blended pastel
backgrounds. As usual, vibrant yet, soothing. The images transition too rapidly for the eye to envision the complexity of the colours. Generally, the combination of pastel hues is soothing;
the images speak of softness and calmness. The pastel-themed shots, which
tell of fantasy, love and romance, represent a dramatic break from the dark
and moody colours of initial grey images.
In the first image on the left, the blend of the warm light purple-pink
hue with the warm light yellow keeps the composition interesting. In the next two
images, the cool blue or the cool green which is blended with white keeps the
compositions cohesive. The mood is soft, soothing, tranquil and inviting.
The most dominant of the pastel images that follow is the one
with a blend of pale lemon with white. It packs a punch as the warm hues in
this palette reflect the colour of sunshine and emulate the glow of a beautiful
sunset. The light seafoam green that combines light green, light blue and
white imparts serenity and calm to onlookers. The baby blue, with a touch of light
lavender, light green and white, is a clear reminder of calm and harmony.
In the last series of pictures, Lee dons a grey shirt. Grey is
an emotionless, moody colour. The grey shirt gradually transforms into a
black shirt. Black, though symbolic of mystery, power and sophistication, also
evokes sad and dark emotions.
There is no denying that the GQ video is about duality. Wouldn’t
you think that the closing GQ images speak of the ‘Duality of Twins’ or the ‘Duality of the Real
Self and the Looking Glass Self’?
Lee Joon Gi is currently filming his TVN drama, Flower of Evil, which coincidentally
explores the psychology of a psychopath, an emotionless criminal, and the
duality of human nature - the good and the evil. Flower of Evil will premiere in July.
 |