Contemporary Korean society can be called a culmination of social consequences caused by rapid modernization, urbanization, and westernization. It carries pervasive sensibilities such as modern desire, anxiety, mystery, and frustration. In this context, photography emerges as a significant and potent medium capable of documenting the scenes of our daily life and society, bearing witness to their dynamic and precarious changes. The photographs showcased in this exhibition invite us to question and contemplate various issues prevalent in contemporary Korean life and society, including urbanization, individual and community dynamics, family matters, identity, and economic shifts.
It can be said that the works are grounded on the belief of the photographic possibility of documentation, yet with a subjective and artistic interpretation. The photographs portray a scene as an observation of the world around us. At the same time, they attempt to capture invisible sensibilities that continuously linger in the photographed moment. In this regard, the works of these 12 photographers serve not only as social commentary but also as acute witnesses to the affective conditions of society.
Hopefully, these works will give rise to captivating and unforeseen narratives, resonating with the wider audience at the Center for Creative Photography. The photographed moments, where artistic intention and magical serendipity coexist, possess the capacity to engage viewers' imaginations and interpretations, ultimately harnessing the profound power of photography, replete with wonders and witness.
Artists: Bang Byoungsang, Chung Chuha, Gwon Doyeon, Kim Mi-Hyun, Kim Oksun, Kim Seunggu, Kim Taedong, Nikki S. Lee, Lee Sunmin, Oh Heinkuhn, Area Park, Yoon JeongMee (in the alphabetical order of the last name)

National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea

Since its foundation in 1969, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea, also known as MMCA, has shared its history with that of Korea’s modern and contemporary art and became one of the most iconic cultural spaces in the nation. By opening additional museums in Gwacheon in 1986, Deoksugung in 1998, Seoul in 2013, and Cheongju in 2018, we have four major establishments that are unique and organically affiliated. For instance, MMCA Deoksugung places priority on early modern Korean art, expanding its coverage to calligraphy and literature, and MMCA Seoul represents Korea’s modern art and features an integration of contemporary art. While MMCA Gwacheon focuses on art research and family activities, covering the breadth of art history from architecture to crafts, prints, and design and offering children’s programs, MMCA Cheongju has established a system of storage, research, conservation, and exhibition that comprises the life cycle of collections. Looking back on the past fifty years, the MMCA will gather insight from the art world and soar to new heights in the next fifty to come.