Renault Korea supports Busan's Expo bid with French photographer's exhibition

French photographer Thomas Goisque, center, bows during an opening ceremony for his exhibition at the Art Space of the French Cultural Center in Busan, Monday. Renault Korea Motors CEO Stephane Deblaise, third from left, and Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon, right, applaud. Courtesy of Renault Korea Motors

By Kim Jae-heun

Renault Korea Motors invited world-renowned French travel photographer Thomas Goisque and sponsored his exhibition in Busan in a show of support for the port city's bid to host the World Expo 2030, the company said Tuesday.

The exhibition, which began on Monday at the Art Space of French Cultural Center in Busan, displays 34 photos of Busan's past, present and future ― all taken by Goisque. It aims to show the beauty of the country's second-largest city while promoting Busan as the optimal host for the upcoming World Expo. The event will run until May 6.

Renault Korea Motor CEO Stephane Deblaise and Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon participated in the opening ceremony of the exhibition when Goisque arrived on the day.

In a congratulatory speech, Deblaise promised the company's full support for Busan's bid while recalling his memory of meeting Goisque last year and recommending him to visit Busan.

Goisque was born in France and graduated from the Ecole nationale superieure des Arts Decoratifs (EnsAD) with a degree in photography. He has worked with Le Figaro, Le Monde, Ouest-France, La Croix and Paris Match.

Goisque won the Marc Flament Prize in 1995 from the French Ministry of the Armed Forces and his photo of the fire-damaged Notre Dame Cathedral was named the “Photo of the Year” by The New York Times in 2019. He has also carried out many projects on the world stage including in Southeast Asia, South Africa and the Middle East.

The carmaker pledged to support Busan for the metropolitan city's fourth competition presentation for the World Expo 2030, scheduled to be held in Paris in June.