The beautiful landscapes of the Dadohae region and the lives of its island inhabitants will be captured through photography as Mokpo National University celebrates its 80th anniversary. The university announced on the 20th that it will host a special photo exhibition titled "ISLAND, SEA & LIFE: Embracing Life in the Islands and Sea" at the university museum gallery 'MUM' starting on the 29th.
This exhibition is a collaborative effort between the university's Library and Cultural Research Institute and the faculty photography club, MNU Photo Club.
The aim is to document the region's natural environment and cultural life through the lens of photography, sharing its value with both the university community and the local society.
Notably, the exhibition takes a perspective that views the islands and sea not merely as scenic or tourist attractions, but as living spaces rich with the history and culture of the residents.
Fourteen photographers, including Choi Seong-hwan, Kang Seong-guk, Kim Chang-dae, Kim Byeong-rok, Gu Ji-young, Park Ji-hwan, Park Jin-gu, Kim Jae-eun, Song Gi-tae, An An-soon, Lee Kyung-ah, Lee Yong-hee, Jo Young-ho, and Hong Seon-ki, will participate in the exhibition.
The artists have captured the landscapes of the islands and sea, the coexistence of nature and humanity, and the traces of culture and life embedded in daily routines.
The exhibition will also showcase the daily lives of residents who rely on the sea for their livelihoods, as well as the unique cultural values shaped by years of adaptation to the natural environment.
Additionally, the exhibition will include stories of nature and culture from various regions, allowing visitors to compare the unique beauty of the local area with diverse landscapes from around the world.
Visitors can expect to explore the commonalities and differences of islands and seas through works captured in different regions and environments, reflecting on the significance of the lives and natural environments depicted in the photographs.
Another significant aspect of this exhibition is the combination of academic research and the voluntary cultural and artistic activities of faculty members.
The Library and Cultural Research Institute has been engaged in research on island and maritime culture, and this exhibition serves to communicate the value of these islands to the public through the visual medium of photography.
The MNU Photo Club, founded in March 2014, is a faculty photography group that has documented local landscapes and daily life through regular exhibitions and special events.
Since its inaugural exhibition in 2017, the club has showcased various themes, including the university's anniversary photo exhibitions and special exhibitions focused on island photography.
The upcoming exhibition commemorating the university's 80th anniversary is a continuation of these efforts.
By connecting the university's accumulated research on island and maritime culture with the artistic perspectives of faculty members, this exhibition is expected to expand the region's specialization into cultural and artistic content.
Choi Seong-hwan, president of the MNU Photo Club, stated, "This photo exhibition aims to convey the beautiful nature and culture embraced by the islands and sea, as well as the stories of the people living within them. I hope that through the works of our members, who have recorded the world from different perspectives, visitors will discover new charms of the islands and sea that they may have overlooked in their daily lives, and take a moment to share in the beauty and inspiration."
The opening ceremony for the special photo exhibition commemorating Mokpo National University's 80th anniversary will take place on the 29th at 5 PM at the university museum gallery 'MUM'. The exhibition is expected to run until November, during which the university plans to share the value of island and maritime culture with the local community and expand cultural and artistic exchanges among its members.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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