Local photographer to show work in Korea

FOR the first time, a local photographer has been selected to showcase his work at an international level exhibition to be held in Korea this month.

The Asean-Korea Contemporary Photography and Media Art Exhibition serves to challenge and examine preconceptions about different societies and their non-hierarchical relationship to one another.

In an interview with The Brunei Times, freelance photographer Bahri Suhaili who will be leaving for Korea later this month, expressed his excitement at being able to represent Brunei at the exhibit. "I am excited although it has not sunk in yet, that I will be going to Korea shortly. I think this kind of exhibition is great because it gives photographers and artists opportunities to showcase their work," he added.

Aside from giving photographers exposure, he said the exhibit would provide a platform for photographers to meet new artists from an open market. "Hopefully, as I will be showcasing my work, exhibitors will look at my pictures and enquire about Brunei and that will put Brunei on the map," he said.

Themed "Magnetic Power", contemporary artists and photographers are required to contemplate the visual language from Asean countries and Korea, reflecting and channelling multiple aspects of their societies such as political, economic, religious and cultural.

Bahri will be showcasing a collection of 10 pictures from Brunei's National Day series, taken from 2005 to 2009.

"These pictures have captured the spirit of patriotism amongst Bruneians, and that is what I want to show in relation to the theme of the exhibition," he said. He hopes the exhibition will be a precursor to joint exhibitions between Brunei and Korean photographers in the future.

"I encourage all photographers to take part in an exhibition like this in the future, should an opportunity arise because every photographer has a specific formula of what he interprets a good picture to be. These exhibitions then serve as a platform to showcase what good pictures are to the public," he said.

Pictures submitted by another participant from Brunei who declined to be named, will also be showcased during the exhibition. His series of pictures interpret daily life in Brunei, taken at the Gadong market. He said, "This exhibition will give exposure about Brunei, and people looking at our pictures will be able to see how alike or different we are."

Through the art exchange exhibition, the Asean-Korea centre, as organiser of the exhibition, aims to showcase the contemporary art of Asean Member Countries as well as introducing new aspects of its diverse and vibrant cultures of Asean.

The exhibition will be held at nine different venues including a museum and eight galleries starting May 20 until June 6. Twenty artists from Asean countries, and 10 from Korea will be participating. The Brunei Times