Korean Project
por Hugh Kretschmer @hugh_kretschmer
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KOREAN PROJECT: When I was requested to create a series of photographs for my retrospective at the Hoban Museum, South Korea, I immediately thought of the Japanese and Korean anime I adore. My introduction to the genre was back in the days of Speed Racer. I was just a kid at the time. Then, decades later, I got to re-experience anime through the eyes of my daughter. (We loved them so much, we had a select few we would watch over and over and over again.)
Now, after all that time watching those films, I'm left wondering if anime has somehow influenced my photography. The answer that comes to mind is, "How can it not?" The films that stand out to me are filled with whimsical characters and creatures who possess mystical powers and live in magical places. (Sound familiar?) But, the question begs to be asked- Where did the visionaries who produced those films get their inspiration? How is it that Korean and Japanese anime is so darned fanciful?
The answers came to me when I researched Korean folklore and idioms for this project. Those ancient stories are filled with similar personalities found in the films I loved, and the stories take place in magical lands, the type of places I only dreamed of. It all makes so much sense to me now. Those filmmakers grew up with those stories, most likely passed down by a relative or teacher. I can imagine how they must have opened their eyes to a proverbial bounty of visual and symbolic possibilities. The "geek" in me finds this all very exciting, and why I chose "anime" as inspiration for the visual complexion of this series.
The messages, however, are a different story. They're purely my own. Like those ancient proverbs, mine are also steeped in metaphor. They reflect important subjects to me- love, health, and wellbeing. I want to challenge all of us to imagine a world with more butterflies in the air than pollution. Or that we should be carrying flowers instead of weapons. How about taking a good look at the love we have in our lives and seeing what a rare gift it truly is?
I am now at an age where I have a greater sense of appreciation for what I once took for granted. This change may be due to many things, the loss being the biggest motivator. (The pandemic only compounded my sense of appreciation.) I'm perhaps experiencing the need to share these feelings with you, and this series is one way for me to do that. Maybe it's my small contribution to making this big beautiful world of ours a little better place to live.
Oh, and as far as the Blue Moon image, that one is purely personal. It's all about possibilities! It goes back to when I was young and "green" and perplexed by a technical issue with my photography. In those cases, I'd turn to the one person who could help me, my dad. But, as was his way, he would use the opportunity to remind me of my problem-solving skills. He would remind me putting a man on the moon was once an idea.
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