Visit Asian Kitchens at Photo Exhibit
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
The best, and perhaps most enjoyable, way to learn about a new culture is through its cuisine. But not everyone has the time and money to go around traveling the world and enjoying gustatory delights of different countries.
``Dreaming Kitchen ― Flavor of Asia'' promises to provide a rare glimpse inside the kitchens of Asian countries including Cambodia, India, Malaysia, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan and the Philippines.
A project of the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Centre of Education for International Understanding (APCEIU), the photo exhibit opens on Aug. 6 at the Korea Foundation Cultural Center, downtown Seoul.
``The kitchen, where delectable food is prepared, is conceived as where one nation's culture and tradition are played out. The basic process of cooking which mainly involves using fire and water and placing food on a plate is no surprise to anyone. But the soil on which the ingredients are cultivated varies by region, and the clothes worn by women who cook, and the houses, religions and customs may all be different, which add new dimensions and vibrant colors to the foods that pleasantly awaken our senses,'' APCEIU said, in a statement.
The exhibit features 270 photographs taken by 11 renowned Korean and foreign photographers such as Park Jong-woo, Sung Nam-hun, Lee Sung-man, Armen Avakyan, H.A.S. Fernando, and Mom Vanna. The photographers trained their lenses on the everyday life of Asians and their unique cuisine.
The exhibit is divided in four sections, ``Dreaming Kitchen,'' ``Farming on Earth,'' ``Pleasure of Living ― Snack Time'' and ``Ancient Future.''
In the Dreaming Kitchen section, photographs show everyday images inside the kitchen, including how some traditional Asian dishes are cooked.
The lives of farmers are depicted in the section Farming on Earth. ``It is true that the farming landscapes around the world have no major differences, but in most Asian countries, where rice farming is a major industry, the landscapes express Asians' `placidity in waiting' that no other place could otherwise show,'' APCEIU said.
Vibrant cultural and social scenes, such as the nightlife in India and ceremonies at various Buddhist temples, are featured in the section, Pleasure of Living.
Ancient Future tells the stories of ethnic minority groups in Bhutan, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand and Philippines who face the challenge of preserving their way of life and culture in today's modern world.
With the photos, APCEIU is planning develop an Asian Cultural Photo Archive, create an e-Learning Multicultural Textbook ``Experiencing Kitchens of Asia'' and publish the ``Understanding Asian Cultures'' photo collection.
APCEIU hopes this exhibit will expand people's understanding of the life and culture of their Asian neighbors.
``As Korea transforms itself into a multi-cultural society, a genuine understanding and one's willingness to understand cultures other than one's own have become excruciatingly crucial. … The exhibition, therefore, aims to provide a valuable learning opportunity especially for young students to take part in exploring the fields of education, culture, life, and geography of Asia all at once, turning the exhibition into a vibrant field of cultural experience," APCEIU said.
On opening night Aug. 6, there will be a special program featuring Asian traditional music. Visitors will also be able to sample traditional dishes from the featured Asian countries.
There will be an Asian Culture Day to provide more information about the culture of the Philippines (Aug. 9), Sri Lanka (Aug. 16), India (Aug. 19) and Cambodia (Aug. 23).
Three photographers will talk about their experiences visiting the Asian countries, Park Jong-woo (Aug. 9), Lim Jong-jin (Aug. 12) and Park Ha-sun (Aug. 16)
Visitors can also try wearing traditional clothes from different countries at the exhibit's photo zone. They can post their photos on https://kitchen.unescoapceiu.org, for a chance to win special prizes.
The exhibition runs through Aug. 27 at the Korea Foundation Center, first floor of the JoongAng Ilbo Building, Sunwha-dong, Jung-gu. It is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday. Closed on Sunday and Aug. 15. Admission is free. Visit www.unescoapceiu.org.