Exhibit Shows Cultural Diversity of Southeast Asia
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
Spring conjures up images of blossoming trees and flowers, clear blue skies and sunshine. At the up-coming photo exhibition called ``Asia's Spring,'' the word `spring' does not have anything to do with nature. Instead, spring is meant to convey the spirit of hope associated with the season.
``Asia's Spring'' will open Sunday at the M Gallery, located in Daein Market, Gwangju, South Jeolla Province. The exhibition, organized by UNESCO's Asia-Pacific Center of Education for International Understanding (APCEIU), runs through May 30.
``The photo exhibition's title `Asia's Spring' has two significant meanings. In Korean, `spring' is called `bom,' which can be interpreted as a `seeing' or `to see.' Drawing from these meanings, this exhibition contains two main aims: one is to see various conflict sites in the Southeast Asia through the lens of a camera and the other is that like the word 'spring,' interpreting as a season of hope, by sharing their diverse cultural values through pictures, hoping that they could be healed," organizers said.
Curated by Choi Yeon-ha, the exhibition's theme revolves around Asian democracy, human rights, and peace.
The first part ``The Social Scene'' shows photographs of daily life and culture in Southeast Asia. Around 40 photographs tackle the issues of democracy, human rights, historical conflicts, and cultural differences in Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand.
``The region actively developed and recorded an increase in economic progress after undergoing colonization and the Cold War period. However, this development also came with serious social contradictions and high social strife. This part aims to show life and culture of Asia and its interconnectedness to the rest of the world. Therefore, if we look at the photographs through the present framework of the world, it will help one to understand Asia more accurately,'' organizers said.
Participating Korean and Southeast Asian photographers include Park Jong-woo, Park Ha-seon, Sung Nam-hun, Lim Jong-jin, Risman Marah, Marlon V. Gotingco, Rahman Roslan and Vannaphone Sytthirath.
The second part, ``Today's Diary on Gwangju'' is a project involving 30 professional and local photographers who will gather and take photos of Gwangju, Saturday (May 16). This is to commemorate the 29th year of the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Movement.
Participants will take photos of ``A Day in Gwangju,'' looking at how much the city has changed 29 years after its citizens rose up to fight for democracy. The photographs will be exhibited, guerilla style, at the Art Market in Daein Market.
``What would Gwangju look like through the eye of a camera, which is an active method, and a producer of culture? From Mangwol-dong to Guemnan-ro, Daein Market to Shinsegae Department Store, new town to old town, Gwangju Biennale site to the entertainment districts, this project aims to not only portray today's Gwangju by taking pictures, but also to provide opportunity of self-introspection for the photographers,'' organizers said.
An opening ceremony will be held at the gallery at 3 p.m., May 17. Admission is free.