Czech Center hosts farewell exhibition of Saudek photos

Czech Ambassador Jaroslav Olsa. Jr., left, looks at photos by Jan Saudek during the opening ceremony for an exhibition of Saudek’s work on May 21 at the Czech Center Seoul. To his left are Bak Hong-seop, head of the Mapo district in Seoul; Petra Hovorkova, vice-head of the center; and Michaela Lee, the head. / Courtesy of the Czech Center Seoul

Jan Saudek’s work returns to Seoul.

After being exhibited across Korea for a year, 20 out of more than 100 pictures taken by a prominent Czech photographer are again on display at the Czech Center Seoul. The exhibition opened May 21.

Altogether, the photographs have been seen by almost 1.3 million people at six different venues.

Nudity is a recurrent theme in Saudek’s works. His lenses capture people — in various states of undress — and Saudek then paints on these pictures.

This explains why there are sometimes different versions of the same composition. It is difficult to even describe some as photos.

Czech Ambassador Jaroslav Olsa, Jr., said putting on exhibitions of Saudek’s work in Korea needed careful consideration because of the nation’s conservative attitudes.

Welcoming guests, Olsa, Jr., regretted the fact that the photographer would be in Beijing two days after the opening. “We could have invited him,” he said.

The exhibition will stay open until June. 21. For more information, visit https://seoul.czechcentres.cz.