Daegu Photo Biennale

Photography as a cultural bridge at the Daegu Biennale 2008.

Christine served as Exhibitions Coordinator and International Liaison for the Daegu Photo Biennale 2008, working closely with a small, dedicated team led by renowned photographer Bohnchang Koo. Although it was only the second edition of the Biennale, this marked South Korea’s first truly international photography exhibition, setting a precedent for future global art collaborations in the country. Christine played a pivotal role in coordinating exhibitions, facilitating communication with international artists and curators, ensuring the event’s vision was successfully realized despite the small team size.

The Daegu Photo Biennale 2008, Korea’s largest international photography festival, ran from late October to mid-November and featured over 1,000 works by approximately 200 photographers from Korea, China, Japan, and Taiwan. Its theme, “Then & Now: Memories of the Future,” juxtaposed historic East Asian photographs with contemporary works, exploring memory, cultural change, and societal transformation. By presenting past and present side by side, the Biennale offered audiences a sense of continuity and evolution across East Asian societies, visually tracing shifts in communities, environments, and aesthetics.

Major exhibitions included “Memories of the Past – East Asian Images from 100 Years Ago,” “Changing Social Landscape: Democratic People’s Republic of Korea 1950–2008,” and “Sway in the Space,” highlighting experimental contemporary photography, alongside “4 Hidden Photographers,” which spotlighted lesser-known yet significant artists. The Biennale extended across Daegu, with exhibitions and events hosted at EXCO, Daegu Culture & Arts Center, universities, civic centers, and private galleries. Satellite programs included student showcases, multimedia and video presentations, and collaborative exhibitions such as “Now in Japan & Korea,” fostering cultural exchange and community engagement.

Beyond exhibitions, the Biennale featured portfolio reviews, symposia, multimedia presentations, and community-participation projects, underscoring photography’s role as both an art form and a medium of social documentation. By bridging historical and contemporary perspectives, the 2008 Biennale cemented photography as a serious, contemporary artistic practice in South Korea and laid the groundwork for future international art initiatives. Today, the Daegu Photo Biennale remains Korea’s largest and most internationally focused photography festival, continuing to bring together artists from Korea, Asia, and beyond.