An open pit coal mine in Wichen, Germany. A rabbit runs in the background of a wind power plant and an open-air coal mine. Provided by the International Exchange Foundation
Climate crisis and environmental pollution and growing inequality by day. Still, we have hope. If you keep only 17 things. At the 70th General Assembly in 2015, the United Nations set 17 goals as ‘conditions of hope’. These are the so-called Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Ending poverty, ending hunger, justice for peace, green energy, responsible consumption and production… If we keep this, there is hope for us. The Korea Foundation (Chairman Ki-hwan Kim) and the Czech Center for Cultural Affairs in Korea (Director Mischa Emanovski) will hold an exhibition at the KF Gallery in Euljiro, Jung-gu, Seoul until the 7th of next month. The exhibition consists of 17 photographs representing the 17 goals of sustainable development among the works of world-renowned photographer David Tyeshinsky, as well as augmented reality works that explain each goal. David Tyeshinsky poses a problem to the viewer by testifying to situations such as exploitation and exclusion, overproduction and consumption, hatred and discrimination hidden inside us, inequality, poverty, and environmental destruction all over the world through photographs. It does not stop at recognizing and criticizing the problems of the past, but furthermore, it makes us reflect on the multilayered nature of our relationship with others. The photo presented by this exhibition as the goal of ‘global cooperation’ of the Sustainable Development Goals is a picture of a soldier hugging a dog in the Donbass War Zone in Ukraine in 2017.
‘Friends in War Zone’ by David Tyeshinsky in 2017. Filmed in Donbass, Ukraine. Provided by the International Exchange Foundation
Works related to ‘eco-friendly energy’ were exhibited in 2020 with the scenery of an open-air coal mine in Jüchen, Germany. The area has been occupied for two years by environmentalists, claiming that lignite extraction is exacerbating climate change. The German government is in the position that extraction should continue to overcome the energy crisis. The landscape captured by Thyasinski gives a subtle resonance. Beyond the horizon, a wind power generator, a future energy source, is running, and in front of it is exposed the land of black lignite that has been dug to the border of the road. And a tan rabbit crosses in front of it. In an interview on the 9th, Tyshinsky said, “I saw something moving in front of my eyes. Instinctively, he turned around, pointed the camera, and pressed the shutter. The fact that there were rabbits in a huge coal mine completely alien to normal nature remains astonishing to this day.”
Climate activists at an open pit coal mine in Wichen, Germany. Provided by the International Exchange Foundation
Photos selected for the goal of responding to climate change were also taken at the same location. Climate activists in white are coming down with a dusty wind, chased by something. “Activists are trained in how to stand up to the police and respond non-violently,” he added. The climate crisis era, people and animals, the past and the future, and the energy we use collide in the viewfinder.
David Thysinski.
Born in the Czech Republic, Thysinski won the Sony World Photography Award in 2017, and is active in various media such as , , and . Regarding his work, he said, “I look for controversial and bizarre subjects, but I don’t want to deal with subjects that other photographers have dealt with many times.” You may find something.” On the 10th, at 4:00 pm, a dialogue with the audience in which Thyasinski participates will be held at the K.F Gallery. The International Exchange Foundation Instagram
