Steve McCurry’s ‘Unguarded Moment’ in Seoul
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
Who would have thought a wide-eyed Afghan girl would become National Geographic magazine's most iconic photograph of all time?
American photographer Steve McCurry is still surprised at how his photograph of the girl inside a refugee camp in Peshawar, Pakistan in 1984, still resonates with millions of people today.
``The astonishing thing is, even though it was taken more than 25 years ago, the interest and fascination with that picture continues until today. We get e-mails every day from people all over the world, still making inquiries. I think interest has actually increased since she first appeared on the cover (in June 1985),'' McCurry said, in a press conference at Park Hyatt Hotel, Daechi-dong, southern Seoul, Tuesday.
The identity of the Afghan girl was unknown for years, until McCurry and National Geographic went back to Afghanistan in 2002 and found the woman named Sharbat Gula.
``I think the reason why she resonated with so many people is there was an ambiguity and mystery, plus a beauty, a haunted quality and a complex range of emotions in her,'' McCurry said.
McCurry was in Seoul for the opening of his biggest solo exhibition ``Unguarded Moment'' at the Sejong Museum of Art, downtown Seoul. A separate show ``Steve McCurry Art Collection'' is also being held at Urban Art gallery, Sinsa-dong, Gangnam. There are over 160 photographs on display, personally chosen by McCurry and Urban Art director Park Myung-sook.
McCurry was born in Philadelphia, and graduated cum laude with a degree in theater arts from Pennsylvania State University. His career took off when he managed to sneak into rebel-controlled Afghanistan, just before the Russian invasion. His photographs, which were the first to show the conflict, won him the Robert Capa Gold Medal for Best Photographic Reporting from Abroad.
Many of the photographs on display at the exhibition were taken in Asia, where McCurry regularly traveled and worked throughout his 30-year career. ``I just feel there is so much more depth here. There is a sort of fascinating disparity or contrast between the ancient and modern world, and the rich and the poor. It's quite extraordinary the range of culture (in Asia),'' he said.
The 59-year-old has been to almost every country in Asia, including India more than 90 times, but he always finds something new. ``I go back to the same places over and over again in India, looking for different light, different moods. I go back to the same temple over 30 times just out of pure pleasure. It's not for work, but just enjoying life. There is a delight with the unfamiliar and new places, but it is also a pleasure to go back to the same places and see them in a different way,'' he said.
The title of the exhibition refers to McCurry's search for the ``unguarded moment, the essential soul peeking out, experience etched on a person's face.''
``I think it can be anywhere, anytime, any situation. These profound moments can exist throughout life and when you least expect it, something wonderful or terrible can happen,'' he said.
His photographs are made even more compelling by the strong emotions it stirs in viewers. For McCurry, it is these strong emotions that distinguish a good photograph from a bad one.
``What image you can't forget or get out of your mind or inspires you _ that's what's important. What evokes an emotional response? If you're moved by a poem or painting or music, I think that's the mark of a meaningful piece of art,'' he said.
The silver-haired McCurry is not at all concerned whether his works are considered photojournalism or fine art.
``I could really care less if you look at my photographs and say its fine art or photojournalism. What I do care about is that people respond and appreciate my work, and derive some inspiration from my work,'' he said.
The exhibition at Sejong Museum of Art runs through May 30, while the exhibition at Urban Art runs through April 24. Several of McCurry's photographs are also being displayed at the restaurants at Park Hyatt Seoul, as part of the ``Art at the Park'' event. Visit www.mccurrykorea.com.