Issue No. 28 – Control

What is the nature of control? The desire for it—and to be free of it—are essential parts of both life and art.

Photo Journal Monday: Seunggu Kim

Photo Journal Monday: Seunggu Kim

Seodalsan, 2014. Mount Seodal is the place where important energy flows into the terrain where the peacock sits. © Seunggu Kim

Seodalsan, 2014. Mount Seodal is the place where important energy flows into the terrain where the peacock sits. © Seunggu Kim

JINGYEONG SANSU

East Asia is traditionally based on "zen" in terms of cultivating the mind and enlightening the truth in harmony with nature, and in this regard, mountains with spiritual energy are called "noted mountains".

Geumgangsan 7, 2018. “Mount Geumgang has the force that makes everything alive in the world.” © Seunggu Kim

Geumgangsan 7, 2018. “Mount Geumgang has the force that makes everything alive in the world.” © Seunggu Kim

Geumgangsan 1, 2011. Mount Geumgang is located in North Korea. © Seunggu Kim

Geumgangsan 1, 2011. Mount Geumgang is located in North Korea. © Seunggu Kim

The recent trend in Korean housing culture is to copy the most famous part of the mountain and artificially recreate mountain in the middle of the apartment complex. It increases the value of the apartment, and at the same time, residents have some psychological satisfaction since there is a traditional belief that the holy mountain gives luck, health, and fortune.

Familie 1, 2019. “The site of strong fertility.” © Seunggu Kim

Familie 1, 2019. “The site of strong fertility.” © Seunggu Kim

Familie 2, 2019. © Seunggu Kim

Familie 2, 2019. © Seunggu Kim

Through these oddly beautiful mountains, the artist wanted to describe a new form of the "zen" which lost its traditional value to adjusted to the industrialized society. The artist has been taking all the mountains in different seasons and different times of the day since there is a traditional Korean philosophy to observe the object frequently, not only to find different details but also recognize the new perception of the object. Now we can face the collective unconsciousness that has arisen in the long history.

Samgaksan Hwaak 5, 2012. © Seunggu Kim

Samgaksan Hwaak 5, 2012. © Seunggu Kim

Geumgangsan 4, 2017. © Seunggu Kim

Geumgangsan 4, 2017. © Seunggu Kim

* “JINGYEONG SANSU” is a Korean traditional aesthetic term which means continuous observation of nature and harmony with nature and is also the official name of the new residential-style shown in these photographs.

You can find more of Seunggu’s work here.

Triggered: Moritz Jekat

Triggered: Moritz Jekat

Art Out: ... photographers ... artists and the snap cardigan

Art Out: ... photographers ... artists and the snap cardigan