January 2026
Koo Bohnchang presents Through the Window I Saw, Anthology : The Bohnchang Koo’s Art Books - An Archives of Memory at gguggum art centre in Daegu
Photographer Koo Bohnchang presents Through the Window I Saw, Anthology : The Bohnchang Koo’s Art Books - An Archives of Memory at gguggum art centre in Daegu, Korea. Marking the inaugural exhibition at the centre, the exhibition explores Koo’s artistic world through photobooks published between 1992 and 2025, alongside exhibition materials, objects, and an interview video.
A pioneering figure in Korean photography, Koo has been expanding and redefining the boundaries of art photography. After finishing his studies in photographic design in Germany in the 1980s, Koo proposed new ways of reading and interpreting photographs from the very beginning of his career. He contributed photos and images directly to books and magazines, challenging the conventions of traditional print media, which were largely dominated by text.
The photobook Vision 1980, on view in the exhibition, presents photographs taken with a Nikon FM2 upon his return to Korea in 1980, capturing Seoul’s transforming urban landscape. Also featured are Koo’s early handmade portfolios, rarely seen catalogues, books that inspired his practice, and printed materials such as exhibition leaflets, which together illuminate his enduring influence in Korean art photography.
In particular, Koo has long regarded books as an independent artistic form in which his philosophy and sensibility are condensed, rather than just a document. Moving beyond conventional photography formats, the exhibition invites visitors to trace the artist’s inner world and extend artistic journey through the medium of books. This approach creates a resonance beyond photographic prints alone, offering a multi-dimensional perspective on Koo’s work. The exhibition runs through March 8, 2026.
A pioneering figure in Korean photography, Koo has been expanding and redefining the boundaries of art photography. After finishing his studies in photographic design in Germany in the 1980s, Koo proposed new ways of reading and interpreting photographs from the very beginning of his career. He contributed photos and images directly to books and magazines, challenging the conventions of traditional print media, which were largely dominated by text.
The photobook Vision 1980, on view in the exhibition, presents photographs taken with a Nikon FM2 upon his return to Korea in 1980, capturing Seoul’s transforming urban landscape. Also featured are Koo’s early handmade portfolios, rarely seen catalogues, books that inspired his practice, and printed materials such as exhibition leaflets, which together illuminate his enduring influence in Korean art photography.
In particular, Koo has long regarded books as an independent artistic form in which his philosophy and sensibility are condensed, rather than just a document. Moving beyond conventional photography formats, the exhibition invites visitors to trace the artist’s inner world and extend artistic journey through the medium of books. This approach creates a resonance beyond photographic prints alone, offering a multi-dimensional perspective on Koo’s work. The exhibition runs through March 8, 2026.
