Uncanny Calm, 2011-2013

Mukjeong is the photographs of those receiving chemotherapy. They experienced the types of cancer only women could get such as ovarian cancer, cervical cancer. My first work was with Myeong Ho who underwent the surgery for ovarian cancer in 2010. Myeong Ho is the pet name of a mother.

Once, I ordered the participants and communicated with them for a while. When I was ready to take photography, I asked the participants: “Are you ready? Where we should go?” They answered to my silly questions constantly: “ Honeymoon”, “When I was in my 20s.”, and “I want stay in the present time.” I meant time travelling, yet I was surprised that we could understand and communicate with each other immediately without explaining them in details. Like this, the participants in Mukjeong themselves showed and unveiled what I wanted to tell them.

In the early phase, my work was close to a documentary form because I was closely attached to the participants. My work changes as my view on mothers changes. When I see mothers, I saw grief and anger, pity and compassion, extreme stress and tiredness were mingled. So I was so careful and felt so sorry when I treat them. My work started changing. It took me almost one year until I realized I could not understand nor transcend them. And then I could back off after taking photos of dozens of them.

Why they got cancer?, Are they women?, and Why a constant distance is needed? Not so strongly contrasting tones and flat lighting technique are based on these inevitability and reasons. Mukjeong started from my consciousness and experience and developed. So my works until now have not been planned, yet just made naturally.

Mukjeong is a part of the address of Jeail Hospital. Mukjeong(墨井) means a well which is as deep as it looks like black ink. The image of a well which was black like black ink came to me like the image of the participants I saw. Such images have a feeling that deep sorrow, relief from life, or gratitude coexist or cross.

I was told digging wells deeply was the only way to keep wells from drying. To keep the wells in our minds from drying, we have to look deep into our inner self. It will be possible only when we are together with others. And it is the reason why I create works.

Han Kyungeun

[Solo Exhibition]
2017 ‘Invisible Vision’, KT&G SangSangMadang Gallery, Seoul
2014 ‘Plasticity of Memory’, Project Space The room (Total Museum), Seoul

[Selected Group Exhibition]

2017 ‘New Force of Photography 2017’, ‘Invisible Vision’, Goeun Museum Of Photography, Busan

2016 ‘Arouse yourself’, ‘Plasticity of Memory’, Hankuk Art Museum, Yongin

2016 ‘Kairos in Photography’, ‘Mookjung’,
Sangsangmadang Chuncheon Art Center Gallery, Chuncheon

2015 ‘Lies of Lies: OnPhotography’, ‘invisible vision_#1,#2′, Huismet de Hoofden, Amsterdam, Netherlands

2015 ‘Lies of Lies: OnPhotography’, ‘invisible vision_restoration and balance’, Total Museum, Seoul

2014 ‘Art of Heungkuk Moving Gallery’, ‘Übermensch’ , SEONHWA Art and Culture Foundation , Seoul

2014 ‘Body and Nature’, ‘Plasticity of Memory’, ArtspaceJ, BoonDang

2013 ‘TRIALOG’, ‘Untitled’, Goethe-Institut Seoul, Seoul

2013 ‘The show must goon_Singapore”, ‘Übermensch’ , Praxis Space, ICAS, Singapore

2013 ‘RoadShow 2013 BaekRyeong Island & Incheon’, ‘(沈)Sim’s crisis and recovery’ , Total Museum, Seoul

2013 ‘Photography & Photography’, ‘Mookjung’, KT&G SangSangMadang, Seoul

2013 ‘New Force of Photography2013’, ‘Mookjung’, Goeun Museum Of Photography, Busan

2012 ‘Homo Empathicus’, ‘Mookjung’, Breda Photo International Festival, Breda, Netherlands

2009 ‘Platform in KIMUSA’, ‘A little Difference’, Art Sonje Center, Seoul

2008 ‘melancholy’, ‘I am a tear-jerker’, Gallery Sogul, Seoul

2007 ‘Happy Puzzle’, ‘Happy Puzzle’, Art outside Gallery, Tokyo, Japan

[Award]
2016 The 9th KT&G SKOPF Final Winner
2012 The 5th KT&G SKOPF Finalist