Uncanny Calm (묵정 墨井)
Han Kyungeun (한경은)
Self Published
English and Korean
Hardcover
34 pages
800 x 900 mm
2013
ISBN Not Available
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.
(Source http://www.geonhi.com/english/han-kyungeun-uncanny-calm-2011-13/)
About the Artist
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.
Hankyungeun.com
