The multinational exhibition, hosted by the ASEAN-Korea Centre, brings together 27 artists from the 10 ASEAN countries and Korea, and features roughly 110 photographic works in its second annual art exhibition. Though the artists and ethnicities are many, the whole of the spectrum depicts the resounding progression of Asian countries into the contemporary art scene.
``The modern art tradition is strong in the region because of the relatively early introduction of Western culture,’’ said Shin Hye-kyung, the freelance curator who is the mastermind of the show. ``With unique artistic interpretations and fresh approaches to formality, Southeast Asian photographers are creating new possibilities for contemporary art.’’
For Thai artist Dow Wasiksiri, creating new opportunities for varied perspectives is exactly what he aims to do with his art. ``A lot of people have done beautiful photography of Thailand already,’’ Wasiksiri told The Korea Times before the opening of the exhibition Thursday. ``But nobody has done another take on the Thai psyche.’’
Close to mid-range profile shots and images of the backs of heads were on display at the show, revealing uncanny symmetry between human and structure, and eccentric quirks within occupational life.
``Tourists never photograph from the back, only from the front,’’ Wasiksiri said. Though his images have a coordinated feel to them, they are all natural, spontaneous shots taken with quick reflexes and a skilled eye. The artist even snapped a photograph of a woman at the exhibition, capturing the perfectly-matched shade of her exhibition pamphlet to the color of the wall before her.
Taking photographs while his subjects aren’t looking reveals a person’s ``true self,’’ Wasiksiri explained, and his work intends to share the hidden charms of daily life in Thailand that are overlooked. Foreigners to Thailand are often exposed to promotional imagery, so they ``don’t get to know real Thais.’’
``At the same time, it’s humorous and vibrant with colors,’’ he added about his art. ``I think life is too serious.’’
Others still approach their work with a sense of history in mind, moving into the future while commemorating artistic roots. Filipina Wawi Navarroza’s pieces are an homage to Frida Kahlo.
Posing as Kahlo herself, Navarroza used digital photography to recreate exact pieces by the Mexican artist, such as ``The Wounded Table.’’ Navarroza admitted that she had to borrow her neighbor’s goat and two chickens for the photograph, but that such added touches as the sneaker helped thrust the work into a contemporary setting.
``I staged it for the camera in celebration of her 100 years,’’ said the artist in reference to Kahlo’s birth in 1907. ``But I’m also commenting on the way we understand images,’’ particularly familiar icons that spark subjective memories within each individual.
``The body of my work comments on photography itself,’’ Navarroza said, in reference to pieces outside the exhibited series.
Though it is the first show in Korea for most of the participating photographers, seven of the featured artists are local. Long-exposure shots of scenic nature in Gyeongju make up the selected works by Lee Won-chul, with eerie lighting and subdued colors showing the region’s aesthetics. Images taken from a standpoint that shows a 360-degree panorama unveils warped aspects of daily locations in Zu Do-yang’s works, while photos of melting candy-flowers by Koo Seong-youn demonstrate an ironic and tragic loss of life and wealth.
Other artists to look out for at the exhibition include Indonesian Angki Purbandono, who created a commentary of imagery by placing 3D objects onto a scanner and produces photos of immense detail on a background of absolute black. Bea Camacho, of the Philippines, has compiled video stills of her performance art: a show where 11 hours is spent knitting a self-cocoon that the artist eventually disappears into.
The host, ASEAN-Korea Centre, aims to improve trade, investment and cultural relations between Korea and the 10 countries of ASEAN: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
``Emerging Wave’’ is at the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul through May 23. The exhibition will then move to the GoEun Museum of Photography in Busan from June 18 to Aug. 8. For more information visit
www.sac.or.kr.
