History + Photography + Superheroes? I was so there.

Here’s the official spiel from the press release.

At first glance, Agan Harahap’s SUPERHISTORY appears to be a tongue‐in‐cheek look at world history: Superman with Allied troops at the Normandy D‐Day Landings; Batman inspecting paratroopers just before they board their airplanes to participate in the first assault in the invasion of the European continent; Darth Vader at the Meeting of Yalta with Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin.

By inserting popular culture icons into photographs of historic world events, Indonesian photographer, Agan Harahap, forces us to rethink history and the way we remember the past. Conflating historical events with fictional characters that have become so much a part of our popular imagination onto the photographic plane, his pictures have cleverly tricked us momentarily into believing that these characters exist and were present to witness these events.

Here are some of my favourite pieces from the show, accompanied by toys from my personal collection.

Surang-Ni, Korea, June 1953 c. Agan Harahap

Perfect Grade Gundam RX-78 from the collection of Shaun Wong

Tan Son Nhut Air Base – Vietnam, February 1968 c. Agan Harahap

Star Wars Darth Vader by Sideshow Toys from the collection of Shaun Wong

Taret de Ravenoville, June 1944 c. Agan Harahap

V for Vendetta by DC Direct from the collection of Shaun Wong

Marching through Beijing, Early 1949 c. Agan Harahap

Star Wars Stormtrooper by Sideshow Toys and Medicom Toys with Star Wars Superskate Stormtrooper by adidas from the collection of Shaun Wong

Nagasaki, Japan, August 1945 c. Agan Harahap

Hot Toys Iron Man Mark 3

I would recommend dropping by if you happen to be a comic/superhero/movie/pop-culture fan and if you happen to be in the Orchard area. You can also add the artist, Agan Harahap on flickr and check out more of his work .

Venue:Ion Art Gallery
Dates: Till 8 July 2011
Time:10am – 10pm daily
Tickets: Free admission

For more information, visit www.mopasia.com.sg.