▲ This photo, provided by the K.O.N.G Gallery, shows a photo taken by Michael Kenna. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

▲ This photo, provided by the K.O.N.G Gallery, shows photos taken by Michael Kenna that are displayed at the exhibition. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

▲ This photo, provided by the K.O.N.G Gallery, shows Michael Kenna. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Jan. 30 (Yonhap) -- British photographer Michael Kenna, 70, who made himself known in South Korea for his iconic black-and-white photograph of a pine tree titled “Solseom,” is holding his solo exhibition, “The Philosopher’s Tree II,” at the K.O.N.G Gallery, located next to the Chunchugwan Hall of the Blue House.

The exhibition, which is held in celebration of his 50th anniversary as a photographer, features an array of Kenna’s exquisite works, including several tree and landscape photographs that were taken from early 1973 to the latest.

Kenna, known for his minimalistic landscape pictures reminiscent of ink-and-wash paintings, has been particularly fond of trees. During a preface to the exhibition held in the same gallery in 2011, the artist was once asked, “Now that you are commonly referred to as a ‘landscape photographer,’ what is your main purpose behind not taking any portraits?” The photographer then answered, “I do take portraits; that is, portraits of trees.”

This exhibition also displays photos of trees from everywhere he loved, including a series of “The Philosopher’s Trees” in Hokkaido, Japan, and the first tree ever he had taken a picture of as a photographer.

In addition to these renowned pieces, there are also several photos of Korea’s scenery, including multiple pine trees he captured in his photos in Samcheok, Gangwon-do, by which the artist made his name known in Korea. His photos of Unyeo Beach in Taean – a city in South Chungcheong Province –, along with Woljeongsa Temple in the winter snow and trees in Danyang make the visitors turn their eyes to the surrounding scenery; the photographer reminds us of the existence of Solseom Island with his photographs. Among them, a photo of a tree in Danyang decorated the cover of a photo book titled “Tree,” which was published in Britain and France in commemoration of the honorary French Order of Culture and Arts the artist received last year.

The artist has been taking black-and-white photographs now for half a century – he does occasionally take color photographs for commercial photography; however, he tends to stick to black-and-white when he works alone.

Kenna, who visited Korea for his exhibition, said, “I am not interested in cloning the world in a way that we humans see it. I always think black-and-white photographs are quieter and have more mystique than color photographs do,” adding, “I think the subtlety of black-and-white stimulates the viewers’ imagination to complete the photographs with their own eyes of the minds.”

Kenna is also a photographer who often makes a visit to Korea; this is his 11th visit to Korea since 2005, during which he planned to take pictures of Ullengdo and Dokdo for his photo book titled “KOREA,” which is scheduled to be published in Germany. However, he had to postpone it to the next time due to unprecedented weather conditions.

Kenna said, “There are many places to visit in Korea, including Ullengdo and Dokdo Islands. So, I want to come back to Korea and take pictures soon,” adding, “I always wanted to visit North Korea, which is a dream I have not yet achieved.”

His exhibition will be open until Feb. 25.

(This article is translated from Korean to English by Ha eun Lee)


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