Museum Hanmi, led by Director Song Young-sook, presents a special curated exhibition titled "Every Moment is a Flower Bud: Yuk Myong-shim, Hong Soon-tae, Han Chung-shik, and Park Young-sook" at its Samcheong main building from March 27 to July 19, 2026.
This exhibition features approximately 110 major works from the museum’s permanent collection, celebrating the enduring legacies of late photographers Yuk Myong-shim (1933–2025), Hong Soon-tae (1934–2016), Han Chung-shik (1937–2022), and Park Young-sook (1941–2025).
By bringing together these four masters who expanded the horizons of Korean contemporary photography through distinct perspectives on humanity, nature, record-keeping, and reflection, the showcase offers a profound look at the layered history of the medium in Korea.
The journey begins with Yuk Myong-shim’s "Baekmin" (Ordinary People) series, which documents the sentiments and identities of the Korean people through the routines of an agrarian society.
As the first installment of his trilogy on Korean identity, this work captures a pivotal era as Korea transitioned from an agricultural to an industrial society during the 1970s.
Following this, the exhibition explores the urban evolution of Seoul through Hong Soon-tae’s "Cheonggyecheon" and "Seoul" series.
Spanning nearly half a century, Hong’s photography captures everything from the shantytowns of the 1960s to the rapid industrialization and reconstruction of the city, revealing the complex intersections of tradition, modernity, and daily life.
On the basement floor, the focus shifts to Han Chung-shik’s representative series, "Goyo" (Silence).
Developed between the 1980s and 2010s, Han sought to capture worlds beyond verbal expression, moving past the literal form of subjects to explore the essence of existence.
His work presents a unique abstract aesthetic that differentiates itself from traditional Korean documentary photography, offering viewers a space for meditation through restrained compositions and refined gazes.
The exhibition concludes with Park Young-sook’s "36 Portraits," a series that examines the social realities and oppressions surrounding women.
Born from her personal experience with breast cancer, this project features poets, novelists, and professors within her circle, meticulously recording individual lives and the broader historical currents that shaped their era.
The title of the exhibition is inspired by the poem "Every Moment is a Flower Bud" by Jeong Hyeon-jong, suggesting that the moments captured by these four artists remain full of latent potential and can be rediscovered through contemporary eyes.
To complement the visual experience, a commemorative catalog will be published featuring artist notes and critical essays that illuminate the aesthetic significance of each series from various angles.
During the exhibition period, Museum Hanmi will also host a range of participatory programs, including monthly exhibition tours titled "Finding Coordinates" and specialized educational workshops for children designed to help younger audiences actively interpret and express the unique philosophies of these four masters of Korean photography.
