Thousands

Korean photographer-artist Kyungwoo Chun (*1969) has become known for his portraits, poetically blurred by their extremely long exposure times, which depict the people in them in a very unconventional way.
More than four hundred years ago, a Chinese general by the name of Chun set off to Korea on a field campaign and remained there, becoming the first person with that name in Korea. Kyungwoo Chun, whose surname means “thousand,” travelled to China to visit the general’s birthplace, where countless Chuns reside today. For Thousands, the artist photographed one thousand people with the same surname as his: for him, each one represents thousands more who are now scattered around the globe. The portraits intensify the moment of encounter between the Korean artist, who lives in Germany, the Chinese, and countless Chuns all over the world—both a homecoming and a new beginning.

Exhibition schedule: Fifty One Fine Art Photography, Antwerp, Belgium opening October 15, 2008 · Centro Huarte–Centro de Arte Contemporáneo, Huarte, Spain, November 2008–January 2009 ·

Total Museum of Contemporary Art, Seoul, Korea, opening March 2009·Kunsthalle in Emden, June 27–September 20, 2009