GANGNEUNG CITY ENG - 솔향강릉

- First release of 57 works donated by ‘Sol Island’ photographer Michael Kenna -

​​ From June 27 (Fri) to September 7 (Sun) Gangneung Museum of Art, Gyo-dong, will host the photo exhibition <Watchtowers: A Time of Stillness> featuring works donated by photographer Michael Kenna. 

 The exhibition will be held in Exhibition Halls 2, 3, and 4 of Gangneung Art Museum, and can be viewed free of charge from 10am to 6pm daily, except Mondays.

 The exhibition showcases 57 works donated to Gangneung Museum of Art from the series of watchtower photos taken by Michael Kenna from 2005 to 2024, mainly along the east coast of Gangwon province. The works are black and white square photographs, developed in darkrooms by the artist himself and characterized by a minimalist aesthetic expressed through margins and understated composition.  

 Michael Kenna, from the UK, first developed a connection with Korea in 2007 while photographing ‘Sol Island’ in Samcheok, and has continued to photograph the east coast of Gangwon province since. This donation is the result of the artist’s long relationship with Korea, and provides an opportunity to look at the east coast landscape in a new way. 

 An opening ceremony will be held at 3pm on June 27 (Fri), the opening day of the exhibition, with the artist in attendance. 20 members of the public will be invited and advance reservations can be made through the Gangneung Art Museum website (www.gn.go.kr/mu).

 Meanwhile, the exhibition will also be holding a ‘Gangneung City 70th Anniversary Commemoration’ social networking service (SNS) event. During the exhibition period, 30 citizens who post about their visit on a social networking service (SNS) will be selected through a raffle to receive an exhibition catalog. 

 Group visits (20 people or more) require advance reservations, and docent tours will be held from Tuesday to Saturday at 2pm and 4pm. For more information, contact Gangneung Art Museum (☎033-660-2474).