InterviewPhotographer blends AI, art in ‘photo revolution’
Photographer Oh Seung-hwan explains his photo work, a combination of AI and his own photography, at his exhibition at Gallery Index in Insa-dong, Seoul, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
In the heart of Insa-dong, Seoul, a cozy neighborhood where traditional Korean culture and contemporary art are gathered, photographer Oh Seung-hwan is challenging the definition of photography.
At his exhibition “AI Photo Revolution” at Gallery Index, running through Sept. 15, the veteran photographer presents a series of photo works created by combining his own artistic vision with artificial intelligence (AI).
The exhibition coincides with the recent publication of his book, “AI Photo Revolution,” the first book in Korea to explore the theoretical and practical aspects of images generated using the emerging technology.
Oh, a former photojournalist and photography professor, describes his professional identity simply as “just a photographer.” He believes that art is a way of communicating one’s feelings to others, and for him, visual communication is the most powerful tool.
“The very first form of art was cave paintings. It was a way of leaving an index that ‘I am alive,’” Oh told The Korea Times at the gallery Wednesday. “Visual language is so powerful that it can transcend time and space without a preexisting agreement. Written language requires a promise, a shared understanding, but images communicate universally.”
In that sense, Oh explained photography is also a strong communication tool that can show the image taker’s perspective to viewers, and he believes AI is simply another tool in a long line of technological advancements, from film to digital cameras to smartphones.
“AI has already been here for over 10 years, people just didn’t know it,” he said, citing smartphone filters as a prime example.
“It’s not a new thing, it’s a rediscovery of perception. So why live with the prejudice that AI photos aren’t real photos? We already live in a world where we use Photoshop to edit our faces.”
Oh further argued that the camera was initially created to accurately capture reality, but photography was never intended to be a factual medium.
“Photography was not originally a medium for conveying facts,” he said. “It was a means for the taker’s expression, a communication tool.”
He pointed out that even in the 1850s, photographers were already combining multiple pictures to create montages. He called this “making a photo,” which was a different approach from simply “taking a photo.”
This historical difference is important for understanding AI photography today, he said, adding that AI-generated images are not just the product of a machine but are an “exclusive possession of the taker’s thoughts and expression.”
“Who is the one who receives it? Not AI, but humans. Art is one way of communication, and it changes with the times,” he said.
A visitor looks at AI photographs at photographer Oh Seung-hwan’s exhibition, currently being held at Gallery Index in Insa-dong, Seoul, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
Pioneering technology in photography
Oh has consistently been at the forefront of introducing new technologies to the Korean photography scene, impacting professionals, amateurs and artists alike.
In 2014, when a resort in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, collapsed, Oh — then a professor of photography at Kyungsung University in Busan — used a drone to capture a panoramic view of the accident site. This work is regarded as the first instance of a drone being used in news photography.
In 2021, he also explored photography’s potential in the digital sector by creating a non-fungible token (NFT) content piece featuring more than 10,000 photos to form an image of seagulls in flight.
Looking beyond the art, Oh has a clear business model for the AI photo revolution. He believes that the proliferation of AI-generated images will create new job opportunities for photographers and creators.
Under the vision, he recently established AI photo distribution platform Genspack. With an aim to connect to creators people who need specific images, the platform will offer AI-generated photos.
He emphasized this venture is about more than business — it is also about securing AI cultural sovereignty. “I dream of a future where AI can perfectly differentiate between Korean, Japanese and Chinese facial features, a feat currently impossible due to a lack of data,” he said.