'Framed in Sound' project brings together photographers, musicians

Participants in the "Framed in Sound" event pose for a selfie near the Han River in Seoul, May 2. Courtesy of Dhira Noor

A collaborative project between Korea-based global photographers and musicians will be presented with a photo exhibition and live music performances celebrating Seoul's international creative scene on Saturday.

The project, "Framed in Sound," paired photographers with independent musicians during a photo walk on May 2, giving the photographers a chance to develop their portrait photography skills while providing musicians with professional promotional images.

For the exhibition, 10 photographers will share five photographs each of their musician partners, who will perform later in the evening.

The initiative was co-created by Filipino musician Nicky Juanite and Indonesian photographer Dhira Noor, who both saw an opportunity to support emerging artists by combining their respective communities.

“We invited photographers and musicians to spend a day together at Hangang Park, with the hopes of benefiting from each other's talents," Juanite told The Korea Times. "Musicians received professional photographs they could use for their portfolios, promotional materials and future opportunities. At the same time, photographers were able to experiment with their artistic styles, practice their craft and expand their own portfolios.”

Photographers take pictures on wooden stairs near the Han River in Seoul, May 2. Courtesy of Dhira Noor

For her, the project began with a personal experience. "It was inspired by a photographer who photographed me last year," she said. "The photos helped me so much because I could use them for my posters and promotions. I thought, 'Why should this only benefit me?' I wanted fellow artists to experience the same thing."

After approaching Noor with the idea, the pair realized the collaboration could benefit both their creative communities.

"The photographers need more opportunities to exhibit their work, while musicians need new stages to perform. Even if we don't know the full impact yet, hopefully it helps artists on both sides," Juanite said.

"What surprised me was how kind the photographers were. They made everyone feel safe. People were laughing, running around and enjoying themselves. They had just met, but somehow everyone became comfortable."

The project also provides photographers with practical experience beyond taking pictures.

"It's a chance for photographers to talk about their own style. Maybe someone becomes interested in their work. Maybe someone even buys one of their photographs," she said.

Photo walks have become increasingly popular worldwide as community-driven events, giving photographers a chance to explore public spaces together, exchange techniques and develop their creative practices. Beyond photography itself, these gatherings often foster social connections, artistic collaborations and opportunities for emerging creators.

Photographers take pictures of musicians for the "Framed in Sound" event on a deck near the Han River in Seoul, May 2. Courtesy of Dhira Noor

The initial "Framed in Sound" photo walk brought together 10 photographers and nine musicians, both Korean and foreign nationals, who spent the day creating portraits around a Han River park.

Noor, an international student studying computer science at Inha University, started organizing photo walks in 2024 after noticing that photographers had fewer collaborative opportunities compared to other visual artists.

The collaboration with Juanite represented a natural evolution of the photography community she has spent the past two years building.

"We've done many street photography walks, but portrait photography was something our community hadn't really explored together," Noor said. "When Nicky suggested photographing musicians, many photographers became excited because it was a chance to learn something new."

A poster for the first "Framed in Sound" event on Saturday / Courtesy of Nicky Juanite

Although the exhibition lasts only one day, the organizers already envision expanding future editions.

"This is our trial run," Noor said. "Maybe next time we'll organize a weeklong exhibition."

Beyond creating artwork, both organizers emphasized the project's role in helping artists build confidence.

The exhibition will be hosted at White Rabbit, an arts-focused multipurpose space near western Seoul's Hongik University operated by Korean artist Moon Choi.

An Indonesian photographer, left, poses with Korean artist Moon Choi, center, and Filipino musician Nicky Juanite in an alley near western Seoul's Hongik University, Tuesday. Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu

The exhibit opens at 7 p.m. on Saturday, and live performances start at 8 p.m. Admission is free.

Bereket Alemayehu is an Ethiopian photo artist, social activist and writer based in Seoul. He’s also the co-founder of Hanokers, a refugee-led social initiative, and a freelance contributor for Pressenza Press Agency.