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Works of Korean and Swiss photographers are displayed throughout the Embassy of Switzerland in central Seoul for an exhibition titled "Spaceless" through Nov. 6. Courtesy of Swiss Embassy |
By Kwon Mee-yoo
The Embassy of Switzerland in Seoul, also known as "Swiss Hanok," is one of the architectural gems among foreign missions in Seoul, combining elements of traditional Korean and modern Western architecture.
After the success of "Breathing Walls," an exhibition that attracted some 7,000 visitors last year, the embassy grounds are open to the public for its second photo exhibition, "Spaceless," through Nov. 6.
Swiss Ambassador to Korea Dagmar Schmidt Tartagli said she is delighted to open the embassy to the public one again to showcase works of up-and-coming Korean and Swiss artists.
"The Swiss Embassy premises has transformed into a beautiful exhibition space featuring original works of artists from both countries who offer different perspectives on urban and digital transformations," the ambassador said.
Chung-Ang University art professor Chun Kyung-woo curated works by eight photographers ― four from Korea and four from Switzerland ― for this exhibit.
Chun, who organized last year's photo exhibit, brought artists who are alumni of Seoul's Chung-Ang University's photography department and Switzerland's University of Art and Design Lausanne (ECAL), bringing diverse perspectives on urbanism and architecture.
Works on display showcase artistic experiments of the photographers ranging from drone photography to objects created using 3D printing.
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Works of Korean and Swiss photographers are displayed outside the Embassy of Switzerland in central Seoul for "Spaceless," a photographic exhibition, through Nov. 6. Courtesy of Swiss Embassy |
Florian Amoser used drones to explore new perspectives, taking photos of air shafts of underground tunnels. He also devised a unique way to present the photos, using a scroll as an attempt to incorporate a 360-degree image on a flat surface.
Alexandra Dautel captured a community in Israel, also known as a kibbutz, blurring the border between utopia and dystopia through its unique architecture.
For "Semi basement, Goshiwon, and Flood," Korean artist Jeong Young-ho collected keywords from online discourse on recent flooding in Korea and created a structure based on how often the words are mentioned first in a digital space and later using a 3D printer. He photographed the actual 3D-printed object, which captures the unseen phenomenon.
Other photographers participating in the exhibit include Jung Ji-hyun, Kim Do-young, Margot Sparkes, Younes Klouche and Yun Tae-jun.
Chun explained that the works on display resonate with the Swiss Embassy, which is within the city yet separated from the city, as the artists shed new light on spaces.
"Visitors will have a unique experience as the exhibition will take place both in and outside of the embassy's premises offering a three-dimensional spatial experience," Chun said.
The exhibition is free, but visitors are required to make a reservation online in advance.