Kyu Sang Lee

The history and legacy of photography (particularly in Africa) is a violent one, one that is slowly being acknowledged and confronted. In the practice of creating static images that lock time into a set of parameters, there must be particular moments that ask an artist to confront the question of what landed them in that position and what that position means?

What are the power dynamics intrinsic to the play of holding that particular machinery in their hands? What does this position mean in terms of their relationship to what or who or how they photograph?

In a genre that is often saturated by singular narratives or sensationalized truths for selling new stories, Marked is a possible angle to reframe and consider the genre of photography and its practice within the world of print. This exhibition, through the mechanics of a group show aims to offer a platform for different perspectives, answering the question of looking in many ways.

Kyu Sang Lee’s photographic artistic practice draws on his experience within distinct regions and cultures of the world. Born in Seoul, Korea in 1993 and having moved to Cape Town in 2005, his artistic practice exhibits strong influences of Eastern, Western and African cultures. Kyū Sang, working in predominantly black and white photography, presents an interesting juxtaposition to ideas of the “lost”.

Photography in South Africa indeed has been a violent one. People use images to influence amd imvade others minds. Posters and news, as images are Works in a similar way. Just like a heavy rain, one lives in a world with overflow of of information where one cannot identify each news. The more information flows, the more one forgets about oneself and eventually one’s life become dominated by oblivion. Oblivion leads away from self realisation. And constant novelty of news, images and media creates oblivion. We live im the distracted and oversaturated world of media.

Photography, media and most of all images work as weapon. In Jericho (2016) i have collected (or ‘scavenged’) news posters that inhabits in the city. And I transported them to the Tankwa Karoo, where it is not distracted by any artificial symbols or visual signs. To the barren of images. By making an installation and burning them, the content of information is properly appreciated and departed. Fire symbolizes destruction and regeneration.

It is unavoidable to live in this world where there is overflow of information. Therefore being aware of the fact that there are worthless images, and to know how to be collective regarding media and information is crucial for good life and self realisation.