Photographer's 40-Year Journey Captures 600 Korean Market Scenes in Solo Exhibition 'Jangnal'

For four decades, photographer Jeong Young-shin has traversed the length and breadth of South Korea, documenting the vibrant tapestry of its traditional five-day markets, known as 'oiljang'. His upcoming solo exhibition, 'Jangnal' (Market Day), at the Space 22 gallery in Seoul's Gangnam district, presents a profound collection of over 600 images captured across more than 600 market sites.

“

In the black and white photos taken with film in the late 1980s, people appear before objects, and time flows before scenery.

From the bustling markets of Damyang in Jeollanam-do in the late 1980s to Jinan in Jeollabuk-do and Yeongcheon in Gyeongsangbuk-do in 2010, Jeong's lens has faithfully recorded the dynamic scenes and the people who inhabit these vital community hubs. His black and white photographs from the late 1980s, taken on film, possess a unique quality where time and human connection take precedence over mere objects or landscapes.

“

The people in the photos were someone's mother, someone's neighbor, and perhaps faces we have forgotten.

Jeong describes the individuals in his photographs as embodying the roles of mothers, neighbors, and perhaps, forgotten faces from our own lives. This exhibition serves as an invitation to pause amidst the relentless rush of modern life and to truly see and appreciate the human face. It's a space for contemplation, a visual journey into the heart of Korean tradition and community, as captured by a dedicated artist.

“

This exhibition is a place where you can pause in the rapidly passing time of today and look at people's faces for a long time.