Gwangju International Center

Speaker :  Lorryn Smith 

Writer : Lee Ju Yeon

Co-Writer : Joey Nunez

Date : April 11, 2015

“We start with the art that is within,” said Lorryn Smit, explaining how she takes pictures during her GIC Talk entitled: “Bohemian Korea.” Lorryn, who is originally from South Africa and teaching English in Gwangju, first bought a small camera. She played with the camera’s applications, before working with Joe Wabe, a Gwangju English teacher originally from U.S.A., and developing her skills with taking pictures on film.

 

The two revived Joe’s organization as Bohemian Korea, with the purpose of showing original and creative work of Korea, specifically with Gwangju. The two noticed that postcards were hard to buy in Korea, so they worked together to develop them in Korea.

 

Lorryn explained that postcards originally began with stamps and envelopes, and color images were first contributed from Kodac company photographers. Postcards arose in popularity in Western culture some time, with countries circulating images through postcards, no longer using envelopes. Nowadays, with the rise of technology and e-mail communication, postcards are used more as keepsakes to give as gifts, not being mailed out as much anymore.

 

“We have good dynamics,” Lorryn stated, showing how Lorryn and Joe originally design and logistically plan their photographed images. “We are working together, using our strengths.”

 

Both photographers chose and continue to choose to work in Gwangju, because of the values in an art city. At the end of the Presentation, both Dr. Shin Gyonggu and Joe commented that Bohemian Korea has added both color and spirit.

 

Postcard images are available for purchase. Find “Bohemian Korea” on Facebook.

 

 

Photo : http://goo.gl/UasWlN

Video : http://goo.gl/Oe2AOW