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Director Im Kwon-taek, left, and his wife Chae Ryeong |
By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
Photographer Lee Eun-joo captures the love and affection of 43 distinguished couples that she considers ``exemplary husbands and wives" in her photo exhibition ``Profiles in Love."
This exhibition shows photographs of couples who have stayed married for years, some as long as half a century. With current divorce rates at a staggering 47%, such longstanding couples are somewhat of a rarity in today's Korean society.
``In view of the rising divorce rate among the young generation, I wanted to show the image of couples who are on their beautiful journey as 'a whole one,'" Lee said.
The exhibition contrasts the couples' past and the present. Photographs of the newlyweds with their young, hopeful faces are shown alongside their current photos, with their wrinkles and graying hair revealing the inevitable marks of passing years. Lee, who took the photos in the comfort of the couples' homes, presents them in the warmest light. The photos are accompanied by short writings; some couples write letters to each other, while others reflect on their past and renew their promises for the future.
Novelist Jo Jung-rae, left, and his wife |
Seoul National University professor Ahn Chung-si and former politician Sohn Bong-suk are each other's ``best friend." ``To become 'like' one another probably means to become 'familiar' with one another. You cannot become familiar with one another if you don't communicate and get to know each other. The mere passage of time doesn't automatically make two different people alike. A committed effort on both sides is necessary," Sohn said.
Director Im Kwon-taek expressed his gratitude to his wife, who has ``always lowered her height to match his." Admitting that the role of an artist's wife must have been a lonely job, Im said: ``My wife's sacrifice and support have been roots that allowed me to bloom the leaves and flowers of my art. I consider my wife, who has always quietly held me up, as my 'pillar.'"
After 42 years of marriage, novelist Jo Jung-rae gives advice to marrying couples: ``First, love each other's weaknesses. Second, marriage is not a tree that grows by the powers of nature but a flowering plant that needs constant care." Indeed, he notes that his wife, poet Kim Cho-hae, ``has no weaknesses, because I love all of them."
The photos of these husbands and wives show that years of love and devotion have truly made them ``a whole one." The exhibition runs through Nov. 17 at Sun Gallery in Insadong. Visit http://www.sungallery.co.kr.
sanghee@koreatimes.co.kr
Kim Hyo-jin, Korea Times intern assisted in reporting for this article |
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yistory@koreatimes.co.kr
