Jeju's Forests and Seas: A Journey Through History and Reality in Photography Exhibitions

Photographer Kim Yong-ho's exhibition, "Namgukjaegyeon: Jeju, Seeing Again - Yuhyeon," currently on display at the Jeju Stone Park's 500 Generals Gallery, offers a profound visual exploration of the island's natural landscapes and the imprints of human history. The exhibition, which runs until August 26, presents a collection of recent photographs and videos that capture the subtle movements and energies of Jeju's forests, reeds, wildflowers, and stone figures.

Under the theme "Yuhyeon" (幽玄), a concept from Taoist philosophy signifying depth and mystery, Kim Yong-ho seeks to interpret the island's landscapes and memories through his unique photographic language. The exhibition is divided into four parts, focusing on themes of sky, earth, people, and stone, complemented by a large-scale video installation titled "Vibrant Yuhyeon." The works utilize delicate contrasts of light and shadow, texture, and ample negative space to convey the profound beauty of Jeju's natural environment.

Beyond Kim's work, the exhibition space also features a donated works exhibition by photographer Kang Tae-gil, "Listen to the Song of the Wind." These photographs from the early 1980s and 1990s capture the now-vanished scenery of Jeju's eastern oreums, covered in grasslands and silver grass fields before the widespread planting of cedar and pine trees, evoking a sense of poignant nostalgia.

Meanwhile, in Seoul, the "Forest and Sharing" foundation's space in Sajik-dong is hosting "Second Skin, 303.8ha," a solo exhibition by haenyeo (female diver) photographer Yoo Yong-ye. Her work visually documents the rapid changes in Jeju's marine ecosystem, as experienced firsthand by herself and fellow haenyeo. The exhibition includes photographs, videos, and installations illustrating the dwindling marine life, the emotional toll on elderly haenyeo, and their daily work, alongside testimonies about the warming sea temperatures and the disappearance of seaweed species.