On the 29th, at the Metro Art Museum inside Gyeongbokgung Station. Various photographs of dogs were exhibited, capturing the attention of visitors. The dogs in the photos all gaze at the audience with their eyes, their mouths curved upwards on both sides. They wore various accessories such as scarves and jewelry around their necks, brightening their expressions.
It is hard to believe just by looking at the photos, but these dogs were edible dogs confined in dog farms located in South Korea just a few years ago. Photographer Sophie Garmand took stylish photos of edible dogs rescued from dog farms. Garmand referred to the dogs in the photos as "children." She explained, "I wanted to show the true beauty of the children. The children are of various breeds such as Retrievers and Maltese. By taking diverse photos, I wanted to convey the fact that they are indiscriminately abused on farms regardless of size or breed."
Garmand is a famous French photographer who has left many photographic works featuring dogs as the main subjects. She mainly worked in the United States. In 2014, she gained widespread recognition with her "Wet Dog" series, which captured dogs taking showers. This work also won an award at the Sony World Photography Awards that year. Another representative work of hers is "Gorgeous Pitbull," where she placed a flower crown on a pitbull, a breed generally feared by the public.
She decided to start photographing dogs in 2010. Garmand recalled, "Around 2010, when I began seriously taking photos in New York, USA, I worked at an animal hospital. At that time, I felt many emotions seeing dogs hiding against the walls out of fear of the veterinarian. I thought, 'What am I doing to these children right now?' I started taking photos thinking about what I could do for these children."
Garmand said, "Humans and dogs have had a relationship for tens of thousands of years. Recently, however, abuse has occurred, causing suffering and damaging that relationship. I find great interest in healing this through photography. It is a very special thing for me."
A message wall set up in a corner of the exhibition space. Visitors left various messages [Photo by Kim Hyung-min]
Garmand is also very interested in our dog meat culture. This exhibition is part of that effort. In 2019, she visited South Korea and toured dog farms for two days. In June last year, she held an exhibition in West Hollywood, USA, featuring portrait photos of dogs rescued from Korean dog farms. Garmand recalled, "I visited Korean dog farms, smelled the environment, and felt the temperature on site. Especially, the expressions of the children were deep and dark, but the farm owners seemed completely uninterested. Dogs continuously express emotions even inside the farms. For them, the iron cages were like hellish environments."
Regarding our dog meat culture, she said, "I understand it." She added, "Just as France has escargot dishes, I respect Korean dining culture as well." However, she said, "I believe culture should move in an animal-friendly direction. Fortunately, the new generation is following this well. We must move toward respecting animals."
Garmand highly valued the remarks made last month by Mrs. Kim Geon-hee, who said, "We will end dog meat consumption within this government’s term." She said, "I always think there needs to be a space to raise voices. It is important that Mrs. Kim voiced her passionate thoughts on this matter. I also raise my voice through my own exhibitions."
Finally, Garmand said, "I hope those who see my work through this exhibition will think about what the right fate is for the children. Through that, I believe I can change myself and society can change as well. We must never be afraid of that."
Meanwhile, Garmand’s exhibition, in collaboration with the animal protection organization Humane Society International (HSI), is being held at the Metro Art Museum in Gyeongbokgung Station until the 1st of next month.
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