Korean Cultural Centre Canada

KCC Programs
Exhibition

MEGA SEOUL 4 DECADES

Jul 10, 2021 | 1354 Hit

The Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Canada and the Korean Cultural Centre present <MEGA SEOUL 4 DECADES> at the Korean Cultural Centre Gallery from Tuesday, July 13th to Friday, September 3rd, in partnership with the Museum of Photography, Seoul and Wilfrid Laurier University in Brantford, Ontario.

Seoul, the capital of Korea, is now a worldwide megalopolis and the international hub of culture and technology. It also boasts 600 years of history, starting from when it was designated as the capital of the Joseon Dynasty in 1392. In the meantime, Seoul had undergone an arduous time, full of extreme ups and downs throughout its modern history. It was the centre of political upheavals; the arena of struggles among imperialists; the site where the old and new, progressive and conservative come into conflict; and the testing ground for industrialization, modernization and democratization. Through ensuing historic numerous hardships and the rapid economic developments, Seoul has lost its unique traditional appearances and memories.

MEGA SEOUL 4 DECADES showcases 55 photographic images of Seoul taken over 40 years between the late 1960s and the 2000s through the perspectives of 12 well known Korean photographers. The group of 12 artists encompasses up-and-coming to veteran photographers of diverse ages and backgrounds, many of whom are still active in the firm of Korean contemporary photography. These artists have captured the city of Seoul in repeated changes and collision and the city is exposed by each generation’s distinctive perspective.

Participating Artists:

1. HONG Soontai (1934-2016, Seoul)

2. HAN Chungshik (b.1937 in Seoul)

3. KIM Kichan (1938-2005, Seoul)

4. JOO Myung Duck (b.1940 in Anak, Hwanhaedo)

5. Bohnchang KOO (b.1953 in Seoul)

6. Gap Chul LEE (b.1959 in Jinju)

7. AHN Sekwon (b.1968 in JeongEup)

8. BANG Byungsang (b.1970 in ChunCheon)

9. Eunjong LEE (b.1970 in Seoul)

10. Chanmin PARK (b.1970 in Seoul)

11. Sunkwan KWON (b.1973 in JeongEup)

12. Hyewon KEUM (b.1979 in Seoul)

For details of their stunning works, please check the attached online catalogue.

Curated by the Museum of Photography, Seoul in 2012, MEGA SEOUL 4 DECADES has toured internationally since then, including visits to the Philippines (2018), Vietnam (2019), Hong Kong (2021) and Belgium (2021) under the Travelling Korean Arts Project by the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE).

A curator-led introductory video by Sunyoung Kim from the Museum of Photography, Seoull is also available. Please click the image below to launch the video.

As part of public programming of the exhibition, the KCC and Wilfrid Laurier University co-host a series of four virtual lectures on the history of Seoul.

This lecture series is given by Dr. Christina Han, Associate Professor of History at Wilfrid Laurier University.

Please click either the titles or the images below to see each lecture.

Lecture 1 - "Faces of Seoul: Seoul in Korean History"

Overview on the history and the characteristics of Seoul.

Lecture 2 - "Reality and Art: Documentary Photography in South Korea"

The works by HONG Soontai and HAN Chungshik are highlighted as the examples of Korean documentary art photography, capturing the history of Seoul.

Lecture 3 - "The Costs of Development: The Lost, the Strange, and the Surreal"

Dr. Han explains the stories of rapid development occurred in Seoul between 1970s and 1980s, juxtaposing the images of the works by 5 participating artists displayed on the exhibition; KIM Kichan, Bohn chang KOO, AHN Sekwon, Gap Chul LEE and Hyewon KEUM.

Lecture 4 - "Republic of Apartments: Life in a 21st-century Megacity"

Dr. Han introduces the dominating lifestyle of modern day Korea: living in apartments. Taking examples from the works by 5 participating artists from the exhibition; BANG Byungsang, Eunjong LEE, Chanmin PARK, JOO Myung Duck and Sunkwon KWON, Dr. Han explores the many facets of living in the megacity of Seoul. The quotation of the poem "Pleasant Noise" by Ko Youngmin culminates the beauty and the ensuing paradox of Seoul life.

In addition, three former and incumbent Canadian Ambassadors to Korea share their personal experiences and memories of Seoul. Please click each image to launch each video.

1. Mr. Leonard Edward and Mrs. Margaret Edward, Canadian Ambassador to Korea between 1991 and 1994

Mr. Edwards has had a long association with the Republic of Korea and with Seoul. He was Canada’s Ambassador in Seoul from August 1991 to October 1994, accompanied by his spouse, Margaret. From 1978 to 1982 he also was the senior officer responsible for relations with Korea in Canada’s foreign ministry. He remains closely interested in Korea and has visited Seoul many times (including with Margaret) since his retirement from the government in 2010. Since 2015 he has been the Canadian Co-Chair of the non-governmental Korea-Canada Forum, which meets annually to promote relations between our countries and provide advice to governments. Mr. Edwards spent 41 years in Canada’s Public Service, concluding his career as a Deputy Minister in 3 assignments: International Trade, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Foreign Affairs. In this last capacity, he was also Prime Minister Harper’s Personal Representative (or “Sherpa”) to the G8 and G20 Summits, and led Canada’s preparations as host of the Muskoka G8 and Toronto G20 Summits. He has also been Ambassador of Canada to Japan, Assistant Deputy Minister for Asia-Pacific Affairs, and Canada’s Senior APEC Official, overseeing preparations for the 1997 APEC Summit in Vancouver. He has served in Hanoi and the former Saigon, Turkey, the NATO Secretariat in Brussels, and Canada’s Mission to the UN in Geneva. In retirement, among other activities, Mr. Edwards’ has been a distinguished fellow with the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada and the Centre for International Government Innovation (CIGI) in Waterloo, Ontario. He is currently a policy fellow at the Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy at the Universities of Saskatchewan and Regina.

Mr. Edwards opens the interview by expressing how much he was overwhelmed by the economic vitality of Korea during his tenure in Seoul. He points out that the two largest markets in Seoul, Dongdaemun and Namdaemun Markets, represent the people and the incredible energy of Seoul which explains the secret of Korea’s economic success. Mr. Edwards recounts how the markets had everything, and all the products sold there were made locally. Witnessing the hardworking people and the amazing liveliness coming out of the markets, he anticipated that the pathway for Korea was the right one, he says. Seoul is also the most memorable city to Mr. and Mrs. Edwards as it was their first posting as Head of Mission while it was also their last family posting, Mr. Edwards recalls.

2. Mr. Marius Grinius, Canadian Ambassador to Korea between 2004 and 2007

Mr. Grinius served in the Canadian Army for 12 years before joining the Foreign Service in 1979. He is the former Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam (1997–99), South Korea (2004-07), and concurrently to North Korea (2005-07), to the United Nations and Conference on Disarmament in Geneva (2007-11). Before retiring in 2012, he spent a year in the Department of National Defence as Director-General International Security Policy. He is a Fellow at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, a member of the Senate of the 30th Field Regiment of the Royal Canadian Artillery (Militia), and a member of the Advisory Board for the Canadian Centre for R2P (Responsibility to Protect).

Mr. Grinius contemplates Seoul as the city that works. He mentions the Fortress Wall, the royal palaces, and the Cheong Gye Cheon stream were all successfully redeveloped while restoring the country's heritage. He also reminisces about the old Namdaemun Market, COEX, and Insadong as some of the wonderful parts of Seoul where he spent his afternoon on a weekend with his family. Throughout his diplomatic services in Korea, Mr. Grinius had been involved in the Korean peace talks and continues to retain close connections with Korea. He also says his incumbency in Seoul was the most important time in his life, as it was his only post where he could be with his family. Seoul was always the start of the family elements, Mr. Grinius says.

3. His Excellency Michael Danagher, Canadian Ambassador to Korea (2018~present)

Ambassador Danagher joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 1987 after working in the private sector. He has served on assignment in Canadian diplomatic missions in Lagos and in Seoul, and as Senior Trade Commissioner in Hanoi and Budapest. He served in Seoul for a second assignment as Senior Trade Commissioner and Minister-Counsellor at the Embassy of Canada.His responsibilities with Global Affairs Canada in Ottawa have included issues such as natural resources trade policy, bilateral relations with Africa, Europe and Taiwan, and as head of assignments for Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service. More recently, he has served as Executive Director, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania Commercial Relations Division and as Director-General, Regional Trade Operations and Intergovernmental Relations. He was appointed as Ambassador to the Republic of Korea in September 2018. Ambassador Danagher has a BA from the University of Ottawa (1983) and an MBA from McGill University (1986).

In this interview, Ambassador Danagher shares his stories related to Seoul, describing the changes he witnessed throughout his 3 postings to Korea between 1993 and the present.

Finally, a French lecture by Prof. Patrick Maurus, Professeur émérite de langue et littératures coréennes à l’Institut national des Langues et civilisations orientales, Paris, is shared with our Canadian audienceshere. Titled "Séoul dans la littérature," this virtual lecture was created by the Korean Cultural Center brussels.

MEGA SEOUL 4 DECADES exhibition

- Dates: 2021. 7. 13. ~ 9. 3.

- Venue: the KCC Gallery, Korean Cultural Centre

- Artists: HONG Soontai, HAN Chungshik, KIM Kichan, JOO Myung Duck,

Bohnchang KOO, Gap Chul LEE, AHN Sekwon, BANG Byungsang,

Eunjong LEE, Chanmin PARK, Sunkwan KWON and Hyewon KEUM

- Organizers: Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Canada

Korean Cultural Centre Canada

Museum of Photography, Seoul

Wilfrid Laurier University

- Host: the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange

Gallery Information