Wonders and Witness: Contemporary Photography from Korea

Co-organized by the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea (MMCA) and Center for Creative Photography (CCP) in collaboration with the School of Art, University of Arizona, Wonders and Witness: Contemporary Photography from Korea represents the joint effort of these institutions to share the achievements of Korean photography with a broader audience.

Contemporary Korean society can be called a culmination of social consequences caused by rapid modernization, urbanization, and westernization. It carries pervasive sensibilities such as modern desire, anxiety, mystery, and frustration. In this context, photography emerges as a significant and potent medium capable of documenting the scenes of our daily life and society, bearing witness to their dynamic and precarious changes. The photographs showcased in this exhibition invite us to question and contemplate various issues prevalent in contemporary Korean life and society, including urbanization, individual and community dynamics, family matters, identity, and economic shifts.

It can be said that the works are grounded on the belief of the photographic possibility of documentation, yet with a subjective and artistic interpretation. The photographs portray a scene as an observation of the world around us. At the same time, they attempt to capture invisible sensibilities that continuously linger in the photographed moment. In this regard, the works of these 12 photographers serve not only as social commentary but also as acute witnesses to the affective conditions of society.

Hopefully, these works will give rise to captivating and unforeseen narratives, resonating with the wider audience at the Center for Creative Photography. The photographed moments, where artistic intention and magical serendipity coexist, possess the capacity to engage viewers’ imaginations and interpretations, ultimately harnessing the profound power of photography, replete with wonders and witness.

The exhibition is accompanied by the International Symposium on Korean Photography, held at the CCP auditorium. The schedule is as below.

Saturday, November 18: The first day of the symposium includes two panel discussions and a roundtable with various esteemed speakers, including Dr. Park Pyungjong, Professor, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, South Korea; Dr. Kim Youngmin, Professor, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea; Dr. Kim Jeehey, Assistant Professor, University of Arizona; Kim Namin, Curator, National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea; Linde Lehtinen, Curator of Photography, Huntington Library; and Zhao Yechen, Assistant Curator of Photography, Art Institute of Chicago.

Sunday, November 19: The last day features highly anticipated panel discussion at 1:10pm with photographers featured in the Wonders and Witness exhibition. Speakers include Gwon Doyeon, Kim Oksun, Oh Heinkuhn, and Yoon JeongMee.

Register for the symposium here.