By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo
The Korea Foundation Gallery in Seoul hosted the opening of "A Sombre Aspect", a compelling photography exhibition by renowned Peruvian artist Roberto Huarcaya, organized by the Embassy of Peru in the Republic of Korea, on March 27. The event brought together an eclectic mix of prominent artists, ambassadors, and members of the diplomatic corps.
The evening began with heartfelt opening remarks that set a reflective tone for the night. Huarcaya then personally guided attendees through his evocative collection, offering intimate insights into the powerful themes captured within each original, large-scale works of his photograms. The gallery buzzed with conversation as guests exchanged thoughts on the pieces, creating an atmosphere of camaraderie and shared appreciation.
The distinguished guests could appreciate the innovative nature of his technique that reflects the geographical and cultural heritage of Peru such as the “Band of musicians from Coyllurqui”, “Yawar fiesta”, “Eucalyptus forest”, “Flying dancers”, “Scissors dance children”, as well as other manifestations of his prolific work.
The exhibition is presented in three distinct sections: Nature, Nature Alike, and Nature Within. These images reconnect the viewer with a sense of enchantment and sensitize them to the untamed aspects of nature.
"A Sombre Aspect" will remain open to the public until May 16, inviting visitors to embark on an evocative journey through the lens of one of Peru's most influential contemporary photographers. Huarcaya’s selection of the photogram technique is deeply significant. Through his innovative use of monumental, immersive photographs and installations, he invites the viewer into a space where the boundaries between subject and object, reality and representation, are blurred.
This exhibition by Roberto Huarcaya goes beyond the individual, embracing the shared social and cultural values that unite us and laying the groundwork for a longlasting cultural and artistic exchange network between Peru and Korea.
About the artist Roberto Huarcaya
For the first time a Peruvian artist, photographer Roberto Huarcaya, has been selected to share his art at the Korea Foundation Gallery from March 27 to May 16.
Huarcaya’s remarkable contributions to contemporary photography have shaped a distinguished international career, including a successful representation of Peru at the 2024 Venice Biennale, the DongGang International Photo Festival and the Daegu Photo Biennale. His large-format photographs—by virtue of their representational, material, and installational qualities—invite the viewer into a complex engagement with the work, fostering a state of contemplation, introspection, and reflexivity. Huarcaya is part of a generation of photographers who, in the early 1990s, revolutionized the use of photographic images in Lima.
For more than a decade, Roberto Huarcaya has been engaging in an innovative exploration of the materiality of photography. By utilizing a distinctive technique such as the photogram, he has profoundly expanded the boundaries of his practice, creating works that transcend the conventional limits of photography and merge seamlessly with installation art, land art, and experimental forms.
