Art In Suncheon

Though a beautiful city, Suncheon doesn't have a large collection of art galleries in the city proper.  A few can be found near the fashion district, and there are a couple here and there outside of the city.  

My favorite art gallery to visit in Suncheon doesn't look like a gallery, nor is it near the fashion district.  It is located along the Dongcheon, which is the river that cuts through the city.  After the building was erected a few short years ago, I decided to go into the place after taking a long walk on the river walk, because all the signs said that it was a restaurant and a cafe.  I thought I would catch my breath and have something cold to drink.  The art hit me as soon as I walked through the doors.  All along the walls some sort of art can be found.  There were even a couple of small installations, too.

To make a long story bearable, I was able to meet the artist and his wife who own and operate the restaurant/cafe/gallery.  He has done a lot of work both inside and outside of the building.  Once the couple learned that I like photography, they said that they would show me their gallery located downstairs.  It is nice, and the work that is exhibited is very, very nice.  I won't spoil it for you, so you will have to take a look for yourself.

I've taken some of my Korean friends to the gallery, and they have asked me how I found out about it since it isn't obvious.  I replied that I found out about it the same way I learned about many places in this area:  I walk to it, bus to it, or have someone drive me to it, and I start talking to people.

Here are a couple of photographs of the gallery.

Resto Cafe

© Mark Eaton

Resto Cafe II

© Mark Eaton

It is located on the eastern side of the Dongcheon.  If you walk along the river walk, be it northward or southward, you will see it for this simple reason:  the river walk was constructed in such a way that it raises out of the river basin to the front of the building.  And then it drops back into the basin.  You can drive there, of course.

I would ask about seeing the art in the gallery only after the hostess seated me, and only after I ordered coffee or a meal.  It is a nice way for everyone to become familiar with everyone. 

Aoife Casey -- On A Visual Journey

Aoife Casey is a visual artist whose creative works of art draws me into a space that is positive and vibrant.

Self Portrait 1

© Aoife Casey

Originally from Dublin, Aoife has been living in Seoul since March 2013.  Her love for the arts is due to the influence of her parents at an early age.  Her room was decorated with beautiful hand painted fairy tale scenes composed by her mother.  It was her mother who encouraged Aoife to draw as often as possible.  Her father always had his camera with him.  Being surrounded by such creativity and such respect for the arts, it would have been surprising if Aoife didn't pursue her own artistic journey.

Having graduated from Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT), and from National College of Art and Design (NCAD), Aoife has a solid background in the arts.  How she illustrates part of her journey is best described using her own words:

"I've tried out so many different types of avenues, visually, and have studied sculpture, painting, photography, textile and fashion design, permaculture, installations and sound.  Much like tone of voice, my medium changed a lot over the years."

After moving to South Korea, Aoife's primary tool to create her visual work is the camera.  As yet, she doesn't have a studio in Seoul, so the camera is very convenient for her.  Not surprisingly, she makes many of her own costumes and props for her compositions even though the physical space required for such productions is limited.

 Jessica for Eternal Romantic

© Aoife Casey

Aoife's greatest inspiration comes from the people she meets.  She feels inspired to capture the dynamics and the stories of the people she meets.  She wants to capture their energy, vibrancy, beauty, and vulnerabilities.  In my opinion, it is apparent that she and her subjects connect so very well, and that she is able to show the absolute humanness of her subjects so very well.  How does she do that?

"I'm a total romantic, too, and I feel that comes across in my work.  Growing up, my walls were covered in Pre-Raphaelite posters and poems.  Personally, I feel living is such a crazy ride in terms of emotions, thoughts, and feelings; some good, some bad, some hard to understand, that I have a need to explore, negotiate, and assess these issues through art."

She understands her subjects, and they understand her.  That connection creates an electric and emotional bond.

She also draws inspiration from the natural environment in her work.  She incorporates the natural environment into her work by using props made from nature and natural things, or by laying an image to add depth and texture to the composition.

 Spring Lay Down 1

© Aoife Casey

Jayun and Jui for Hope

© Aoife Casey

On a personal note, I became aware of Aoife and her work after she began publicizing and then publishing some photographs from The Natural Beauty Project.  As is true with many people who come to Korea, Aoife sought to understand why so many Korean women have cosmetic surgery.  The Natural Beauty Project, as she describes it, was an investigation to learn and to understand why Korean women would want to change their appearance.  Fifty women participated in the project, and she came to realize from them the cultural pressures and expectations that so many face.  

Freya Han for The Natural Beauty Project Seoul

© Aoife Casey

Currently, Aoife is a monthly contributor to CultureM Magazine, which is an international online cultural magazine published in South Korea.  The magazine discusses many different things about Korean culture, music, fashion, visual arts, and cultural events.  To read and view her contributions to CultureM Magaine, please click on this link.

She is also involved in a collaborative project with fellow artist and friend, Jennifer Murphy, who happens to be in Ireland.  It is literally an international collaborative effort.  The Affinity is the title of the project.  Each month a theme is chosen, and the two artists submit one or two photographs in response to the theme.  The project can be seen on a Facebook page:  The Affinity.  For those who don't Facebook, one response to the Essence theme is shown below.

Essence for The Affinity

© Aoife Casey

In response to my question about her goals, Aoife replied that her goal is to be expressive and happy.  Overall, her aim is to tell a visual story through a single image, or through a group of images. 

She is looking for ways to challenge her work.  With her photographic work, she is working with more than one subject at a time, plus she is working towards portraying male subjects.  The challenge is exciting and completely different for her. 

It is also her desire to complete an artist residency sometime in the future.

To view more of Aoife's artwork, visit her website here.  (Please note that the website is undergoing some major maintenance work at this time, so try again later if the site is not accessible at this moment.)

Her work can also be seen at her photography blog here.

The art of Aoife Casey does fill me with happiness.  Her work is timeless, really.  By way of conclusion, her thoughts about her visual journey:

"I really feel sharing my work with a broad audience, and for them to enjoy it is how it comes alive.  I hope to look back on my work in ten years and be proud of the visual journey I have taken."

Photographers and Photography: Freedom

Photographic art is about freedom; the freedom to express honestly that which is in the heart, mind, and soul of a photographer.  It isn't about the ridiculous and unreal idea that photography must follow the expectations and guidelines of some faceless and nameless cabal that pontificates edicts that are nonsensical.  It is about being real and true to the self.

Expressing oneself honestly and truthfully is a liberating experience.  Yes, one does run the risk of alienating those whose vision is narrow.  On the other hand, one can find immense satisfaction and fulfillment following his or her own pathway.  Often times that path will have others who are also being true to the self, and wonderful attachments and relationships can be formed.

There is no one true way for all.  Each of us must find our way that is honest and true for each of us individually.  

I am sharing five different links to show how different processes have been used and are used when working to create a photograph.  None of the five links speak to the subject of digital photography.  I do this to show that those who have used film in the past, and those who photograph using film today, have and do manipulate their film negatives to create something special.  I am a digital photographer this day and age, however, I learned the art using a film camera in some other century.  To this day I continue to learn how to improve my skills.

Three of the five links are youtube videos.  I must warn you that some time will be needed to watch the video about Ansel Adams and the video about Alfred Stieglitz.  For those who are dedicated to photography, it will be time well spent.

In fact, the first video is about Ansel Adams and how he approached his profession.  His attention to details in the field and in his darkroom are lessons to be remembered.  A special thanks to Joe Wabe who made me aware of this video several months ago.  The link:  Ansel Adams.

The second video is about the man who worked so hard to create and to promote the arts and the art of photography.  He association with the great artists and photographers from Europe and America and his fearlessness in promoting the arts and the art of photography is nothing short of amazing, in my opinion.  The link:  Alfred Stieglitz.

Video number three is a short example of how a finished film print can be manipulated to enhance the final product.  Some of my favorite prints in the past were those I hand painted.  The link:  Manipulation.

The fourth link is an example of how film negatives can be manipulated to create one artistic effect or another.  A viewer will be able to search the internet to find articles about how the great photographers from the past processed their film negatives in order to create some stunning images.  The link:  Distressing Negatives.

The fifth and final link leads to a forum discussion.  A photographer discusses his manipulation process:  Kill Your Darlings.  To see the results of his darkroom manipulation, visit his portfolio over at photo.net:  Emil Schildt Photography.

In this age of the internet, so many examples and stories of photographic art by way of a film camera exist and can be accessed for anyone to learn from.  That is the easy part.  The hard part is the honest retrospection and inspection of the heart and the mind that is necessary to be the creative being that is full and fulfilled.

Doug Stuber: Solo Exhibition at the PDG Gallery

This coming Saturday, 22 June, Doug Stuber will begin his solo exhibition at PDG Gallery in Gwangju-si, Jeollanam-do, South Korea.  He will show about 20 of his paintings at the gallery.  Doug has a rich and deep background in the arts.  How so?  Visit the exhibit on Saturday and talk to him about it. 

Here are three examples of his wonderful art:

© Doug Stuber

© Doug Stuber

© Doug Stuber

As mentioned above, the exhibition begins Saturday, 22 June, and it will conclude around 25 July.  The opening reception for this event will be held at PDG Gallery beginning at 5:00 p.m.  There will be two outstanding performance artists who will be showcasing their skills for the gallery attendees to enjoy during the reception:  Gim Gwang Cheol 김광철 and Angie Hartley.

Doug has set up an event page for the exhibition at Facebook:  Doug Stuber Solo Art Exhibit.

For those fortunate enough not to have a Facebook account, traveling to the PDG Gallery isn't difficult at all -- it is just across the street from the U-Square express bus terminal in Gwangju.  Specifically, the building that houses the gallery is on the Shinsegae department store side of the terminal.  

Exit from the Shinsegae department store itself directly outside, not in the terminal itself, and look across the street for the Mr. Pizza sign.  The gallery is on the 5th floor of that building that has the Mr. Pizza sign.  And for the love of Zeus, Poseidon, and Amphitrite, be careful crossing the street!

Here is the address:

460-33 Nong Sung Dong, 

Dana Medical Arts Building

Gwangju-si, Jeollanam-do

UN Report Discusses the Importance of Artistic Freedom -- National Coalition Against Censorship

I have been following National Coalition Against Censorship for many years.  Putting aside the fact that I enjoy creating art, just at the basic level of being human, censorship is a devastating tool to wield power and to ensure that people are kept in emotional and intellectual darkness.

At the NCAC site is a brief summary of a very recent UN report that posits (correctly, in my opinion) that artistic expression is a human right.  Read the NCAC article and access the original UN report here.

Music was banned in Mali?!  Censorship must be defeated, and humanity must support and protect the arts and artists.  Those who wield power and support censorship must be defeated so as to prevent humanity from reverting back to the Dark Ages.