"Showing Works Only Photography Can Express" Daegu Photo Biennale Opens on 22nd

By November 5, at Daegu Culture and Arts Center Area
'Again, with Photos!, The Eternal Power of Photography' Theme
1,037 Works Submitted by 293 Photographers from 23 Countries

"The goal of this biennale is to showcase works that only photography can express, which other media such as painting, literature, and music can never replicate. We will present an exhibition that demonstrates the inherent power of the medium through photographs that maximize the characteristics of the device."

'The Time of Persistence? The Power of Recording Time' Martin Romus. [Photo by Daegu Photo Biennale]

The 9th Daegu Photo Biennale will be held from the 22nd to November 5th at the Daegu Culture and Arts Center under the theme "Again, with Photography!, The Eternal Power of Photography." At a press conference held on the 11th at Conference House Dalgabi in Jung-gu, Seoul, Artistic Director Park Sang-woo stated this.

This year's Daegu Photo Biennale moves away from the recurring trend discourses (social politics, environment, climate, minorities, disasters, coexistence, etc.) seen in contemporary domestic and international biennales, focusing instead on the unique characteristics and power of the photographic medium, which increasingly dominates human spirit, body, senses, and art through technological media.

Professor Park Sang-woo of Seoul National University's Department of Aesthetics serves as the artistic director, and world-renowned photography scholar Michel Frizot collaborates with Director Park to plan the thematic exhibition.

This year’s exhibition features 1,037 works by 293 artists from 23 countries. The thematic exhibition, involving 60 distinguished domestic and international artists from 22 countries, explores how the power of photography unfolds in contemporary visual arts through 10 sub-themes.

The exhibition sub-themes are ▲Now, Here (The Power of Testimony) ▲Exploding Light (The Power of Recording Light) ▲Frozen Time (The Power of Capturing Moments) ▲Sustained Time (The Power of Recording Time) ▲Before and After (The Power of Repetition and Comparison) ▲Viewpoint (The Power of Perspective) ▲Close-up (The Power of Magnification) ▲Mise-en-sc?ne (The Power of Direction) ▲Transformation (The Power of Alteration) ▲Frontal (The Power of Relationship), totaling 10.

'Transcoder - An Inner Monologue on Invisibility', 2016. Qianhua Huang
[Photo courtesy of Daegu Photo Biennale]

Director Park introduced, "These 10 photographic powers have been continuously explored by artists seeking new visibility since the invention of photography. These powers still persist nearly two centuries later, exerting influence in contemporary culture and visual arts."

He added, "This thematic exhibition will be a valuable opportunity to encounter the marvelous visual spectacles realized by contemporary artists and photographers relying on the power of photography. The Daegu Photo Biennale is an exhibition that discovers the inherent power of photography and reflects on photography itself in Daegu, the birthplace of photography."

Photography scholar Michel Frizot, who planned the thematic exhibition, said, "Even today, with the development of digital photography, the unique characteristic of photography as ‘recording light’ remains unchanged and continues uninterrupted." He expressed hope that the biennale would allow visitors to discover impressive and interesting recent contemporary photographs in Daegu that do not follow current trends.

The special exhibition (Photography’s Unexpectedness) presents Western photography from the late 19th to early 20th century alongside contemporary art photography under the themes of ‘unexpectedness’ and ‘contingency,’ which are other characteristics of photography.

The invitational exhibition "Daegu Photography History Series III" highlights the power of Daegu photography, illuminating photographers, photography organizations, and photography history timelines from liberation and war through the 1980s in a multidimensional manner.

Additionally, programs involving both professionals and amateur general citizens, such as the Young Artist Photography Exhibition, Fringe Photo Festival, and Wardrobe Photography Exhibition, are prepared.

This year’s biennale differentiates itself through the Photobook Festival, allowing audiences to experience the charm of photographs inside photo books and the diverse archival work of artists.

Professor Park Sang-woo (left), Artistic Director of the 9th Daegu Photo Biennale, and Michelle Frizot, curator of the thematic exhibition.
[Photo courtesy of Daegu Photo Biennale]

Artistic Director Park explained, "I made great efforts to bring the French photobook culture to Korea because I believe that works are not only those hung on walls. While paintings have originals, photography has little difference between originals, files, and copies, so the universal distribution of photography has been through books. I consider what is on the wall and in books to be the same, and thus worked hard to create a catalog (art book) as a work itself."

Moreover, a variety of 'Photography Lecture Workshops' are prepared. These include lectures introducing the biennale’s overall theme, 'The Specificity of Photography,' to the public, as well as lectures on 'Photography Theory' such as the secrets of photography’s birth and photographic trends by era, and lectures introducing 'Advanced Functions of Photography' such as road view photography, drone photography, AI photography, and plastic (成形) photography.

Kim Hee-chul, director of the Daegu Culture and Arts Center, said, "We will spare no support to fully realize the artistic capabilities of this year’s artistic director of the Daegu Photo Biennale," and added, "We ask for much support so that this can be the richest biennale ever, enjoyed by photography enthusiasts worldwide, Korean citizens, and Daegu residents alike."