Exhibition Information

Watchtower_ Study 10
2006 Wolcheon_ Gangwondo_ South Korea

Pine Trees_ Study 5
2018 Unyeo Beach_ Chungcheongnam-do_ South Korea

Hanyangdoseong_ Study 1
2014 Seoul_ South Korea

DMZ_ Study 9
2015 Cheolwon_ Gangwondo_ South Korea

			The exhibition "KOREA-part 1" by British writer Michael Kenna, who is familiar with Sol Island, will be held at the Gonghye Gallery in Samcheong-dong from March 15 to April 28. This year marks the 45th anniversary of her writer's life, and Kena has been releasing photo albums that feature various landscapes from China, Japan, France and USA. This time it is Korea. They collected only pictures taken during their visit to Korea from 2005 to 2018.

The two Koreas now crave peace more than ever and look forward to the historic moment when the top North Korean leader returns to the South. This exhibition was specially prepared by Gong Geun-hye Gallery. 

Michael Kena described Korea in the preface: "I've always loved places of mystery and ambience. Where the rust is saturated with the passage of time, where you can make new suggestions or ask questions rather than explanations. In this respect, Korea has long been inhabited by people, so it is a treasure to me. It's a place where memories and traces are buried everywhere, in the air, and in the ground."

The exhibition will be the first of its kind in Korea to feature various images of Korea, including the DMZ's broken railroad tracks, Cheorwon Beach Observatory, Sol Island on Unyeo Beach, POSCO in Pohang, a thermal power plant in Hadong, Yedang Reservoir in Chungcheongnam-do, and Seoul's Hanyang City Wall. 

Among them, the unique scenery that caught the attention of the British writer in particular stands out. This is a view of the guard tower of the guard post in Gangwon Province. These are the most stark pictures of the current situation in South Korea, which is divided into the South and the North. This is what the writer says. Korea is still visibly affected by the war, both externally and emotionally. For example, I've never seen a beach with wire-protected towers standing on it. The closer we got to the DMZ, the more ominous the atmosphere of the watchtower on the beach. South Korea has provided me with some very interesting things for photography. I can't imagine what we'll find in North Korea in the future, but I sincerely hope to have a chance to go to the North and see it with my own eyes in the near future." And the author, on why he added the title of the exhibition, "Part I," not just "Korea," said with his little wish: We hope to publish a photo collection of KOREA that shows both the South and North Korean scenes and to hold an exhibition in Korea from various countries soon. We look forward to a day when we can be invited officially by North Korea and take pictures of the scenery there freely. Chairman Kim Jong-un, please invite me. Hurry up.“ 

In spite of the digital age, Michael Kena still adheres to the traditional black-and-white silver chloride printing method, which requires 45 years of manual labor in darkrooms. The author says that this analog work style is a key element of creation that determines his work. 

He has been working on several projects and topics at the same time for decades now. The Korean project is one of these series. He is eager to continue his trip to Korea in the future. The Dokdo to Korea says one of the photo shoot to visit. Next is North Korea. 

"My photography, which is set in Korea, continues to progress. I think there are a lot of attractive places to find in both South and North Korea. I was so lucky to have spent time in Korea. I hope that one 'KOREA' exhibition of beautiful scenery from the South and the North will be held again soon." 
- Michael Kenna at Incheon Airport in January 2019.

It is a highly anticipated exhibition of familiar South Korean landscapes that have been created through Michael Kenna's square camera and his darkroom.

In commemoration of the exhibition, a special limited edition photo collection, 'KOREA, Part I,' will also be published.