Koo Bohnchang, a pioneer of Korean contemporary photography, presents Koo Bohnchang: The Look of Things at the National Asian Culture Center (ACC) in Gwangju, Korea. The exhibition marks the inaugural exhibition of the ACC Focus series, organized by the ACC to present solo exhibitions of Asian contemporary artists who have redefined the framework of culture and art. Koo Bohnchang: The Look of Things delves into Koo’s key works centered on objects, exploring both larger and smaller narratives surrounding these objects while highlighting Korean, and more broadly, Asian sentiments embedded in his works.

The exhibition is divided into three parts. Part 1, “Breathing Life into Historical Objects with History” presents Koo’s works that reinterpret national treasures and artifacts from the Korean War through videos and installations. One notable series, Vessel, is composed of photographs capturing white porcelain that has been smuggled out of Korea. They are presented as hanging scrolls suspended from the ceiling, evoking the dramatic imagery of the porcelain's spirit returning to its homeland. Another well-known series, Gold, is displayed using lightboxes placed horizontally on the floor, recalling the glory of the Silla gold crowns before they were excavated and turned into historic artifacts.

The second part of the exhibition, “Discovering Trivial Objects in Everyday Life” presents photograph series capturing quotidian found objects. The works capture the inherent temporality of various objects: the artist’s possessions in the Collections series; a device of French architecture from the 15th century in Chasse-Roue; empty boxes and spaces in the Interiors and the Object; bars of soap in the Soap. Among other works, Koo’s film work Korea Fantasy (2017) will be also displayed for the first time. Capturing the colors and patterns of Dancheong, traditional Korean decorative wood coloring, in a dynamic motion, the work reflects the artist's broad interest in tradition and cultural heritage.

Finally, the third part, “Encountering the Gaze of Koo Bohnchang” showcases the artist’s personal collection of objects as well as collaborative works with mass media, along with archival materials that offer insight into the exhibition’s theme and Koo’s practice. Additionally, portraits of various artists, taken by Koo over many years, highlight his distinct vision across multiple disciplines.

Koo Bohnchang’s works capture the unique stories of objects over time in a manner reminiscent of portrait photography. Blending traditional Korean aesthetics with Koo’s unique perspective, the exhibition runs through March 30.