By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo

The Embassy of the Dominican Republic and BANDITRAZOS gallery are delighted to announce the exhibition “Stillness and Change: Korea, 2021-2024”, presenting 46 signed, single-copy fine-art photographs reproduced in large format, taken in Korea by a Dominican photographer who happens to be the Dominican Ambassador.

All photographs will be for sale and the profits will fund the extraordinary activities organized by the Association of Spouses of Ambassadors in Seoul (ASAS), for children who cannot be with their parents living in Korean welfare centers.

Dr. Younghoon Kwaak, President of the UN Association in Korea and master planner of Korea’s economic and urban development, said: “With his photographs, Federico Alberto proves that photography is an art, that it can capture the essential features of glocal reality interwoven with the past, and that it can be a means for mindfulness. The artistic is there for all to see in his compositions, his choice of styles to depict the situations encountered and his alternance between color and grayscale. What is essential for Korea is also there for all to see, in the way he presents our historical heritage coexisting with our present architecture and in the continuity of our religious beliefs in today’s modernity. The mindfulness of Federico Alberto’s photography emerges from the joy, the humor, the brilliance and the use of chiaroscuro in his work.”

KT Kim, the renowned Korean photographer and curator of the exhibition, said “Stillness and Change is executed with a high level of proficiency. The focus is sharp, and the depth of field is well-chosen to keep the entire scene in clear detail. The exposure is well-balanced, ensuring that all elements of the image are visible without any overexposed or underexposed areas. The timing of the shots is perfect, capturing the exact moments when pedestrians are in motion, which brings life and energy to the photographs. Stillness and Change is an engaging collection of photographs that successfully captures the vibrancy and complexity of Korean life since his arrival as an Ambassador/photographer. The combination of strong composition, effective use of natural light, and an interesting subject matter makes this exhibition a standout piece, evoking a sense of curiosity and connection and inviting the viewer to explore the stories of the individuals captured in the frames. Overall, Stillness and Change is a powerful example of photography that highlights Federico Alberto’s ability to capture fleeting moments of Korean life with authenticity and artistry.”

Marianne de Tolentino, the top cultural critic of the Dominican Republic who is also the Director of the National Gallery for Fine Arts, said “Federico Alberto – his “nickname” as a photographer – was a student in 1981 of the greatest of Dominican photographers, Wifredo García (1935-1988). Teaching and example bore fruit in the successful disciple, with his self-demand and his sincerity, his fruitfulness and his enthusiasm. This diplomat, intellectual and humanist has distinguished himself in photography for many years and is presenting a solo exhibition of 46 fine-art photographs, taken in Korea - mainly Seoul - between 2021 and 2024. The photographs surpass our longing and aspiration for beauty. At the same time, Federico Alberto, a contemporary artist, manages aesthetics and technical skill, from the relationship of lines and tensions to the framing. Formal values, including color, come together in a visual poem, a succession of “odes” to Korean life”.

Federico Alberto, the ambassador/photographer and artist of this exhibition, said “Well before I arrived in Korea, I was fascinated by the fast pace of change that took this country from the ashes of war to the top of all relevant development indicators. My admiration for Korea has been greatly enhanced when, in the streets, the hills, the bays or the islands, I found how the speedy rise in standards of living did nothing to modify Koreans’ religious tolerance, perfectionism, openness, community involvement, hunger for learning and thirst for self-improvement. The tension that I have tried to document in this exhibition is the one between tradition and modernity, the stillness of spiritual life and the changes in architecture, behavior and pace, with shots taken on my way to and from work, after dinner, while biking, during weekend hikes or on official trips away from Seoul. If the overall balance is one of optimism, it reflects most surely my admiration for a country that has done so much in so little time thanks to the sacrifice and hard work of so many.”

Photo Exhibition, “Stillness and Change: Korea, 2021-2024”

Hosts: The Embassy of the Dominican Republic to the Republic of Korea and BANDITRAZOS Gallery
Subject: “Stillness and change: Korea, 2021-2024” – Exhibition of 46 fine-art photographs taken in Korea by H. E. Dr. Federico Alberto Cuello Camilo, Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to the Republic of Korea.
Opening date: 12 October 2024, 15-17h
Exhibition dates: 13-25 October 2024.
Opening hours: 10-18h (closed on Mondays).
Place: Banditrazos Gallery 3F 49 Seongbuk-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul
Exhibition inquiries: 02-734-2312