Renowned Architectural Photographer Presents Phenomenological Landscape of Buildings

Renowned architectural photographer Yongkwan KIM is showcasing his work at the Design Gallery on the first floor of the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) Design Lab in Seoul. Titled "Record of Relationship, Architecture as Landscape," the exhibition runs from May 4 to August 6, and features some of his most iconic works, including his captures of DDP itself. 

▲ Haebangchon(해방촌), photo by yongkwan KIM.

KIM is well-known for his photographic documentation of buildings by famous domestic and foreign architects such as Dominique Perrault, Min Seong-jin, Cho Byung-soo, Kim Chan-joong, Kim Tae-soo, Mario Botta, Cho Min-seok, and David Chipperfield. He takes a unique approach to architectural photography, exploring buildings in great detail and capturing them with his own distinct style.

His photography goes beyond simple documentation, influencing people's perception and understanding of buildings with historical, cultural, and artistic characteristics. He sees architecture as a living object that forms relationships with its surroundings in nature and the city, constantly creating new landscapes. This perspective is reflected in the exhibition's title, "Record of Relationship, Architecture as Landscape."

KIM's photography captures not only the exterior of buildings, but also the relationship between the building and its surrounding environment. He uses the atmosphere around the building to create a representation of it, showcasing the expressions and nuances of the architecture. Some of his standout works on display include the Water Windslide Museum by Itami Jun, the Seokpoong Museum of Art standing in a snowy area, and the Soo Museum of Art, where only the roof is visible from being buried in the wind.

▲ Ulleungdo Healing Stay Cosmos photo by Yongkwan KIM

As Yongkwan KIM puts it, "I am a photographer documenting architecture. The photos I take are not only my job and life itself, but also images that imply the architect's worries and time. The relationship between architects and architectural photographers, and between cities that embrace architecture and nature, inspires me to document the city and its architecture historically. Relationships are the starting point of my work and the value of my architecture."

KIM has taken architectural photos since 1990, working with prominent publications such as Architecture and Environment and Space. He was the first Korean to win the Architectural Photography Award from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in 1999 and was also the first architectural photographer to donate 10,000 architectural photographs to the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. He founded the architectural magazine Documentum, which has had a significant impact on the Korean architectural world.

 

▲ Biotopia Seok Museum, photo by yongkwan KIM.

The exhibition is presented by the Seoul Design Foundation, which operates DDP, and aims to introduce contemporary design that has been attracting attention since last year. Admission to the exhibition is free.

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Maria Kim, sayart2022@gmail.com