Page 27 - PHOTODOT 2017년 2월호 VOL. 39 February

Ground Zero, the Criterion for Destruction and Reconstruction

The term ‘Ground Zero’ is applied to the worldly-known destruction site manity and the very human nature. My work concept, Big Eye (new image
of the 911 attacks and to the historic spots in Hiroshima-Nagasaki over making via condensing diverse time and spaces), condenses the paradox of
which atomic bombs were dropped. The World Trade Center in Manhattan, human nature found in ground zero. Big Eye is the condensed expression
NYC and the bombed spots in Hiroshima and Nagasaki that experienced about the humanity as a heartless and cruel destroyer and at the same time,
the ground zero, the standard coordinate point for complete destruction as an accomplishing reconstruction creator out of sorrow revealed at the
and extinction, became the places where the action aimed at destruction sites of the 911 attacks and Hiroshima-Nagasaki atomic bomb dropping.
derived from human’s rationality was realized. And the same spots are also
the places where humans, with the instinctive act to rise from sorrow and
fear and embrace each other, have gone on with their lives by reconstruct-
ing the places and remembering the history of destruction. Ground Zero,
where two contradictory faces of destruction and reconstruction coexist,
is a clearly symbolic site for ‘humanity’ that has made the history according
to its nature of reconstructing through destruction. Ground Zero inevita-
bly carries two contradictory interpretations. From victims’ standpoint, it
ARTIST HA CHOON KEUN
signifies the dreadful and disastrous spot, whereas assailants interpret it as www.indigoha.com
the creation of the world in the way they have wanted. When it is viewed
Exhibition
not as a historic site in a narrow sense but as a reasoning ground for under- “Brisas de Corea” Galleria SAROLEON, Spain 2016
Media Facade MyungBo Art Hall, Seoul 2016
standing human nature, ground zero reveals the essence of how humanity Project8 Group Exhibition - Gallery Mark, Seoul 2016
Beyond Landscape -ArtN Shanghai 2015
has built and maintained the world. Fundamentally, human survival has been Independence70 Division70 KOREA Project Solo Exhibition - Ministry
of Unification Odusan Observatory, Paju 2015
managed by the destruction of nature and the creation of the world, and KOREA Project Solo Exhibition _ GalleryNow, Seoul 2015
likewise, the survival of one nation and its people has relied on repeating GalleryNow 2nd Brand Award, Seoul 2015
Hyundae PhotoCamp Portfolio Award, Kyungju 2015
the history of destroying and creating authoritative power and generations. 3People Group Exhibition -TongSi _ Gallery Misulsegae, Seoul 2014
Donggang International Photo Exhibition Growing Up, Yeonwol 2014
Humanity and war have an inseparable relation, and so do war and peace.
Book
It seems that humanity is destined to be ironical in that merciless destruc- Project8 2016
Publish a Book “Photo Worry of Artist” 2015
tions of humans and living things have given birth to the history of love and TongSi 2014
hope. You and I are not exempt from destroying the time of destruction and
Donation
creation, and then creating again. Ground Zero doesn’t simply remain as a 155miles #1 DMZ _ Ministry of Unification Odusan Observatory 2015
Dok Do _ YongSan Fire Station 2016
disastrous and memorial site. It not only is the symbol of human history
Career
that havoc and reconstruction coexist, which all humans identify with, but KyungSung University Visual Design
Chung-Ang University PhotoAcademy 2013-2016
also offers an important matter to think over objectively, the irony of hu- Twobeone Communication Inc. CEO

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