2022.12.22
Creators of Beauty ③ Han Sunjung, director of the Han Youngsoo Foundation
Amorepacific has been devoted to ‘contributing to humankind by creating beauty and health through technology and devotion’. This vocation changed over time. Now, as part of our mission of “We make A MORE beautiful world,” we are committed to discovering unique beauty and its potential. At Amorepacific, we are taking one step at a time to create a world of New Beauty, where everyone is encouraged to discover and appreciate their own true, natural beauty. There are people who share a similar path, those who are building an empire of beauty of their own. News Square visited and interviewed them who are creating beauty in different areas of the world.
Our third interviewee is Han Sunjung, director of the Han Youngsoo Foundation devoted to presenting the works of photographer Han Youngsoo to the whole world.
Han Sunjung, Director of the Han Youngsoo Foundation
(From the left) ©Han Youngsoo, ＜Seoul, Korea 1956-1963＞, source: the Han Youngsoo Foundation / © Han Youngsoo, ＜Myeongdong, Seoul, Korea 1956＞, source: the Han Youngsoo Foundation / ©Han Youngsoo, ＜Ttukseom, Seoul, Korea 1956＞, source: the Han Youngsoo Foundation
A couple absorbed in reading and a partition with an illustration of an oriental flower and a bird between them, bringing up a scene from director Wong Kar Wai's film; a woman looking very stylish in her white rain coat on a rainy day; a group of people in modern swimsuits, enjoying their time by the Han River and Nodle Island, one of the most popular summer retreats at that time. Han Youngsoo, photographer, and first-generation commercial image maker in Korea, took documentary photographs of ordinary people in their daily lives right after the Korean War when he was at the peak of his career and filming commercials for Amorepacific, formerly Pacific Corporation. Three years after the war, even though buildings were left with horrifying bullet holes and small shacks were built in place of the destroyed houses, people enjoyed a cup of coffee with their dearly beloved at coffee shops, went on dates and chased the fashion trends. “What's more impressive is that life continues. A simple and very obvious fact,” said Han in his photo book. He took photos of people leading their lives with an unfailing attitude of cheerfulness and style, even in the aftermath of the war, and captured the sparkle of life that never fades. His works have been widely acclaimed in Korea, Europe, and the U.S. and early this year, Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), one of the largest museums in western America housed 20 of his works.
A panoramic view of the Han Youngsoo solo exhibition
The artist’s solo exhibition “When The Spring Wind Blows” held at Baik Art Seoul through January 18, 2023 presents 30 works from his photographs of Korean women in 1956 to 1963. It is co-hosted with the Han Youngsoo Foundation, directed by Han Sunjung, daughter of Han Youngsoo. She began editing and publishing her father's photo books in 2014, following his death in 1999. “It is entirely up to the artist to decide what moments in the endlessly changing lives.” She explained about how the artists capture the beauty of the world.
Q.
We heard that you found your father's black-and-white photographs after he passed away. If it were not for you, we could have missed seeing these beautiful photos. Your major and career must have helped you discover the aesthetic value of his work, and make it known to the world.
I majored in photography at university and worked as a press photographer for some time before I went to Hungary to study design. While in Hungary, I took part in some exhibition projects, like art brochure and poster design at Mai Mano House (Hungarian House of Photography) and in 1999, my father passed away so I came back to Korea to put together his works because I was the only one of his children who had studied photography. It was also a chance for me to closely follow his work. The documentary photographs he had left were surprisingly broad. The Han Youngsoo Foundation was not my intention at the time but I had to start it in order to properly manage and open his work to the public.
Han Sunjung, Director of the Han Youngsoo Foundation
Han Sunjung, Director of the Han Youngsoo Foundation
Q.
You must have been either knowingly or unknowingly influenced by your father when you decided on your major. What do you think?
I thought that I had not been influenced at all by my dad. He was very strict with children and I don't have any memory of having any deep and meaningful conversations with him. But then, I remember these small, everyday moments where I went through his photo books, listened to music in his den and peeked over him taking photos. I guess these moments may have motivated me to study photography.
Q.
We heard that Han had a very successful career as first-generation commercial image maker in Korea. Are there any memorable episodes that you could share?
The Tamina autumn campaign poster titled Clear, Bright and Beautiful (left) and the Beaulux Cosmetics summer campaign poster titled Walking in the Sun (right) taken by photographer Han Youngsoo in 1975.
Like, once a year the entire family visited his studio and had lunch at a nearby restaurant. I was only a school girl back then and everything in the studio was fantastic. The studio, even the walls and stairs, was made of glass and tons of cosmetic brands featuring top actresses at that time, including Yoo Ji-in and Jang Mi-hui were lined up. I remember posters of Amore Tamina, the leading cosmetic brands of the then Pacific Corporation. One time, he brought models and staff members to our home to do a fashion photoshoot and I remember, watching the mesmerizing, blinding flash of a strobe light through the door cracked open. My mom said, I stood there holding outfits and shoes to hand them over when needed, almost like an assistant. (Laughter) All of those moments must have affected my choice of career in visual art.
Q.
How did he get into photography? We heard that he was the firstborn son of the eldest son of a good rich family from Gaeseong and that he showed a talent in art early.
Photographer Han Youngsoo at work.
I heard from my mom and learned through interviews, not directly from my father, that he was very talented in drawing and how his art teachers even came to home and recommended a high-level drawing class. He was also interested in machines, as I heard and his talent and interest probably got him into cameras and photography. But he began working as a trader because he had to take over the family business. One day, he happened to join a catalogue project and fortunately it turned out successful. In 1966, he opened his studio and began his career as a commercial photographer.
Q.
Photos that are particularly loved by visitors at the exhibition are those of ordinary people in Myeongdong, Chungmuro, Jongno, Hangang, Ttukseom, between the late 1950s and the early 1960s after the Korean War ended. Though they were in the aftermath of the war, in these photos, they show an aura of confidence in their look, and they have this vibe that feels very modern. There isn’t even a hint of sadness in their face. That's very impressive.
(Clockwise) ©Han Youngsoo, ＜Myeongdong, Seoul 1956-1963＞, source: the Han Youngsoo Foundation / ©Han Youngsoo, ＜Seoul, Korea 1956-1963＞, source: the Han Youngsoo Foundation / ©Han Youngsoo, ＜Namdaemun, Seoul, Korea, 1956-1963＞, source: the Han Youngsoo Foundation / ©Han Youngsoo, ＜Meongdong, Seoul, 1956-1963＞, source: the Han Youngsoo Foundation
That is what I think is most important when running the foundation and introducing his works to the world. Even for myself, I used to think that people at that time were poor and struggling. But after I saw his photos, I realized that what I thought I knew was only partial and incomplete. The people in his photos were poor but they had been through this exciting time of transition where modern lifestyle, fashion, and beauty products were brought into the country from abroad. In one corner of Myeongdong, buildings were left in ruins while at the other side, art theaters and cabarets heightened the excitement. In a way, it is much like our life; varied and multifaceted. One time, we had a small seminar about photographer Han Youngsoo at LEICA Cheongdam, and one of the visitors came with her mother. After the seminar ended, she came and said how she had been through that time and everything she remembered was pain and grief, but after seeing his photos, she remembered the fun she’d had and thanked me. I feel as though I should show through my father's works that life is multi-dimensional.
Q.
As a photography major, where do you think Han's artistry comes from?
(From the left) ©Han Youngsoo, ＜Myeongdong, Seoul, Korea 1958＞, source: the Han Youngsoo Foundation / ©Han Youngsoo, ＜Namdaemun, Seoul, Korea 1956-1963＞, source: the Han Youngsoo Foundation
Well, I cannot say for sure. As you know, everything is momentary. He must have roamed around the streets of Myeongdong, coffee shops and markets and waited for moments to capture like Henri Cartier-Bresson did. When he saw a certain moment that was interesting enough to capture, he probably captured it into perfection. But first, he must have thought about the angle and composition. Unlike other photographers, he rarely uses bracketing (a technique of taking several shots of the same subject and storing them in a memory card) as shown in the contact sheets of his photos. His was a true talent.
Q.
“When The Spring Wind Blows” is being held through January 18, 2023 and features about 30 photos selected from his photos of Korean women taken in 1956 - 1963. A woman with gorgeous wavy hair, in her fur coat, walking with zing past Bando Hotel is particularly impressive.
It is where Lotte Hotel today is located and I heard that Bando Hotel at that time had the hottest bar in Seoul. There is another woman, looking at Northwest Airline ads and perhaps dreaming of going abroad, and a boy behind her, wearing a hat, probably a shoeshine boy in a striped shirt. Isn't he stylish? These show the artist's view. He captured the confident attitudes of people amidst the whirlpools of their troubled time and their chic style. It is his respect and pride in people living to beat the odds. It is also the essence of life that he wanted to show. We go through hundreds of emotions in a day, like how a message from a friend brings smile to our face even when we feel depressed or even frustrated about something. It is entirely up to the artist to decide what moments in the endlessly changing lives to capture, which I think also reflects the artist's viewpoint and way of looking at the world.
©Han Youngsoo, ＜Bando Hotel, Euljiro 1-ga, Seoul, Korea 1956-1963＞, source: the Han Youngsoo Foundation
Q.
There is a series of photo books that have been published since 2014 including “Seoul, Modern Times” (2014), “Once Upon a Time” (2015), “Time Flows in River” (2017) and “A Soft Pink Skirt in the Spring Breeze” (2020), and in particular, this exhibition features photos from his photo book published in 2020.
Four photo books published by the Han Youngsoo Foundation: ＜Seoul, Modern Times＞ (2014), ＜Once Upon a Time＞ (2015), ＜Time Flows in River＞ (2017) and ＜A Soft Pink Skirt in the Spring Breeze＞ (2020).
That's true. But “A Soft Pink Skirt in the Spring Breeze” does not only feature photos of women in modern and sophisticated outfits. There is a woman in a traditional Hanbok, carrying a bundle on her head as though she was setting off on a long journey and also a young girl, carrying her scruffy baby sibling on her back, in front of their little flimsy house. What’s more eye-catching than their appearance though is their shining eyes, full of confidence without fear. I wanted to show these women. I decided to publish a series of themed photo books when I first saw his contact prints, and I am doing it with seven different themes. Four books have been published and there are three more to come. I am also working on a book of research articles on his artwork.
Q.
So, was your father fashion-conscious?
Photographer Han Youngsoo
Yes! I heard he was quite a dandy; he had gorgeously tanned skin, a well-toned body and kept his hair slicked back with pomade. I remember him wearing a turtleneck shirt, suede jacket and holding a camera in his hands. Very handsome and stylish, I must say. (Laughter)
Q.
Watching the past of our neighborhoods and people therein through his photos is a very interesting and refreshing experience. Why do you think young audiences, mostly Millennials and Gen Z give a shout out to him at this exhibition?
(From the left) ©Han Youngsoo, ＜Seoul, Korea 1956-1963＞, source: the Han Youngsoo Foundation / ©Han Youngsoo, ＜Deoksugung Palace, jeong-dong, Seoul, Korea 1956-1963＞, source: the Han Youngsoo Foundation
I thought that the people of my generation would be interested in the photo books and exhibition but surprisingly there were many visitors much younger than I expected, in their late teens to early 20s. I guess, the way people look at the 1950s and 1960s has changed over time. They do not only focus on sad history but instead take a more detached view. They understand the pain of the people and at the same time, appreciate the sophistication and modern beauty of his photos.
Q.
We'd love to know how his photos are now housed in LACMA. As the director of the Han Youngsoo Foundation, you must have been thrilled.
Everything worked out perfectly. When his works were unveiled at LA Art Show, there were galleries, collectors, and LACMA - all of them wanted his works. Normally, donating an art collection to a museum takes quite a long time, but fortunately for us, everything went quickly and smoothly.
Q.
As a person who has been in the field of visual art for long years, how would you define true, fundamental beauty?
Through my work and everything I have experienced through works of art work, I have learned that beauty truly comes in many different forms and colors. The essence of beauty, I would say, is diversity. The reason I majored in photography, studied visual design, and run the Han Youngsoo Foundation today is that I want to show the diverse aspects of beauty to the world.
Han Sunjung, Director of the Han Youngsoo Foundation
Q.
Amorepacific is seeking New Beauty to support and uphold different values of beauty in light of the changing times. What role do you expect Amorepacific to play?
Having begun with Amore Tamina cosmetics, you are now affecting more and more aspects of life. Your beauty products are environmentally friendly and future-oriented, and from what I hear, you are promoting the Korean tea culture to the global community. Plus, as a member of the art world, I have always loved and supported Amorepacific museum. I hope that Amorepacific continues to favor the arts and at the same time, spreads beauty across the world as it has always done.
※ Courtesy of the Han Youngsoo Foundation, Baik Art
Written by: writer Ahn Dong-seon
Written by: writer Ahn Dong-seon
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