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Seoul Architecture: Right Place Right Time by Gigi Chung
Gigi Chung is a California-based fine-art photographer specialising in abstract architecture. She distills complex scenes into bold sculptural forms; emphasising lines, shapes and contrast with conscious inclusion of aesthetically pleasing elements. She is a contributor to Tagree, Jaamzin and Medium Format Magazine. Her photography work has taken her across the globe, to galleries and elite photography competitions in Athens, Chania, Cormons, Frankfurt, Glasgow, Greenville, Kyoto, London, Portland, Minneapolis, New York, Taipei, Trieste, Tokyo, San Francisco, Vermont and Zurich-Oerlikon. Her recent accolades include the 17th Pollux Awards, the 17th Julia Margaret Cameron Awards, Tokyo International Foto Awards Jury Top 5, Kyotographie KG Plus featured artist and Hasselblad Heroine.
Seoul, the city and her architecture, to me, is about Pride, Status and Transformation.
In order to acquire place identity, the city should give a sense of individuality and uniqueness. The diversity in architecture styles leads to aesthetically pleasing compositions. Seoul’s offering is abundant.
This project is an abstract visual representation of the architecture in Seoul. My collection seeks to accentuate curves, emphasise details, and create asymmetry.
Place identity of Seoul City Hall
Seoul, the capital city of South Korea where 1 in 5 Koreans call home, population about 10million. Visual symbol of the nation’s pride, the facade of Seoul City Hall is unique as its design is based on the eaves of traditional Korean houses.
My images seek to accentuate the flowing, curvilinear form of the design. The exterior is a green glass curtain wall which echoes the surrounding terrain of mountains and valleys. The multi-faceted surfaces reflect light, the same scintillation a perfect-cut diamond gives, in the heart of a city that never sleeps. Thanks to the precise artistry and workmanship, the facade delivers the best return of light. These golden sparkles give hope toall citizens who fight to be free. The effort I made by choosing an unusual and bold angle is being rewarded as a result. South-facing front maximises the amount of day light, while the east side dome-shape window captures the morning calm before the rush arrives.
The architecture of Seoul City Hall offers a sense of place for the community in the heart of Seoul. It is where people interact with the Seoul Metropolitan Government through the services provided to the citizens. Moving south and crossing the river, I witnessed the prowess of Seoul’s economic development, of what is called “the Miracle on the Han River. ”
Seoul City Hall Side
Seoul City Hall Front
Seoul City Hall
Place identity of Gangnam
Among my Korean friends who live here, they all want to know where I went to take pictures. Few and far between may go on to ask WHAT I was looking at. “That building looks more like a half-moon than a banana to me. ”Here, the use of imagination is boundless for creating what is the Gangnam style architecture: Showcase for the flamboyant new-rich urban modernity.
This is the new face of the nation: Prosperous, choreographed urban space welcomes those creative individuals who understand no limits in the pursuit of status. So, what exactly is that? Are these urban sculptures in disguise?
My images seek to illustrate what some of the possibilities are and at the same time reveal the talent of Korean architects who contribute to visual excitement, yet conveying harmony. Circles, in Korean culture, represent balance in the universe between the two cosmic forces.
“Oh, that is one of the contemporary show pieces in Gangnam. ”
Gangnam, the city that literally means “South of River” in Korean, is the place where modern architecture flourishes. Whether Gangnam offers a sense of architectural objects as built environment, a distinct form of art, or simply an unconventional spatial experience is up for debate. What is obvious in Gangnam is a show of lifestyle. Known for showcasing flagship stores by the fashion houses, Cheongdam area in Gangnam has numerous jaw-dropping structures to choose from.
Among these, one of the fashion corporate headquarters along Dosan Road looks especially inviting to my camera. I say, if French MontBlanc brings sweetness to your palate, this facade offers imagination to my photography life. Imagine, vermicelli purée layered in an orderly circular manner, cut in halves and hung on its side. Capture that!
The truth is, a collaboration is formed between Korean’s leading fashion designer Lie Sang Bong and architecture firm Unsangdong under a shared vision: “Fashion is architecture and architecture is fashion,” there is no clear distinction.
Gangnam Mont Blanc Lie Sang Bong
Gangnam Summit Gallery
Moving along Yeongdong Road due south, I came across Summit Gallery whose facade resembles a topographic map with lots of contour lines. In art class, I learn that shading is the part that makes a drawing go from a flat contour drawing to a 3dimensional illusion. Here in Daechi-dong, the gallery’s east-facing facade has enough shadow light play that makes it alive as the intensity of the sun and the angle of illumination vary. This “map” has all shading done, now is the photographer’s job to scan and decide which area is of particular interest. The exterior consists of silver metallic surface created by massive sheets of steel, with concentric circles as cut-outs, layered on top of each other. Imagination flourished as I saw lots of circles. One may say the sculpture-like facade resembles the front of a floor-standing loudspeaker, where the round holes are diaphragms or cones. Facing the building, what I heard was the constant traffic behind me, as Yeongdong Road is a major thoroughfare in Gangnam. Since the “speaker” I was looking at made no sound, the experience was odd and strange in a good way.
If circles draw attention, the next building I visited has a lot of them. Going north towards Coex, a landmark made up of convention centre, shopping mall and hotels, an off-white building awaited. The facade of Place 1, a white skin, looks like the bottom of an egg crate. Some concave circles are simply openings, letting light and air in. Others are art discs with design pattern, while the rest serve as windows. They rotate about the x axis between open and close. The roundish infundibula make the building look like a giant tentacle. I was in awe, happily photographing the octopus.
I sum up my Gangnam experience speaking of current, modern architectural design. The next location on the east side of city center is all about the future. Dongdaemum Design Plaza, DDP in short, is neo futuristic architecture designed by Zaha Hadid. If Dream, Design & Play makes more sense, this is indeed a dream come true.
Gangnam Place 1
Place Identity of Dongdaemum Design Plaza (DDP)
The exteriors are metallic cladding reflective surfaces casting shadows on itself, making it a candidate for a successful photoshoot. The liberating curves fit perfect with the idea of relaxation and cultural events which happen inside: TeamLab exhibitions and the Seoul Fashion Week. Speaking of fashion, Dongdaemum area has always been famous as a fashion wholesale market, and Hadid’s marvelous work epitomises DDP as the world stage of spatial design.
Spatial design is about understanding how people move, interact and feel within the space. The DDP design team put focus on the space and the people who come to use the space. It is transformation with a holistic approach. It is not just the spaceship-like architecture which wows me, come to think about it. What is equally impressive is the connecting walkway that permits the flow of space from interior (library, exhibition space, conference rooms) to the park setting on the outside.
DDP facilitates new and continuous growth. It is the result of collaborative effort between tourism industry and fashion industry. A series of memorable events during the Seoul Fashion Week take place at DDP. As the models marching down the stairs and crossing the walkway (as the runway), a new generation of fashion talents owns this space in history with the perfect backdrop of DDP. DDP is the stage. Seoul Metropolitan Government hosts Seoul FashionWeek, a global fashion business event.
Who are the regulars who come to visit DDP?
The creative fashion and design industry in Seoul gather in DDP. The clever design of walkway accommodates the constant flow of foot traffic by providing a ramp connecting the street level and the below-ground plaza. To us photographers, multiple vantage points along the ramp, as well as two stairway son each side offer different perspectives, thereby enhancing the composition of a photo. To top the list, this plaza is off-limit to any traffic except pedestrians. As a venue for leisure and recreation, being able to safely explore to enjoy the moment of photography is an equally important in my agenda.
DDP5
Strategic Planning and Execution
Speaking of agenda and plans, here is a checklist I have considered, as part of my strategic planning and execution.
First thing first, how do I locate the building? I use the local map system Nevar or KakaoMap to provide up-to-date information.
Orientation of the building structure, obviously, dictates how much natural light it receives. Outdoor planning photography tool 'The Photographer's Ephemeris (TPE)' lets users see directional light on a map to decide the best time to shoot. Mapping out the area of interest is vital.
Hydration and shelter needs are well taken care of, since cafes of various sizes are readily available.
Plan to go back at a different time, as thel ight condition changes, the images will evoke different emotions. What is a Right Time? I stay in one area long enough to feel “The Rhythm of the place. ”
Walk. Keep walking to observe the spatial transition in order to better arrange visual elements in the frame.
Explore. Try all possible angles by circling around the building structure.
Conclusion
If the act of photography includes personal experience gained by approaching similar subjects at different stages of life, what do I gain from the experience of photographing what is unique, mostly memorable and sometimes strange?
“Let’s take a look!”
What is Place Identity?
It is how people perceive the place with their eyes, and how the place touches their souls. On top of the unique aesthetics, place identity is how much people feel they belong through their involvement with the environment. Getting on my feet day in day out, I gain a better insight of what place identity is.
All photos were shot with Hasselblad X1D, XCD 45mm, XCD 65mm and XCD 80mm.
gigichungphotography.com
Seoul City Hall Abstract
Gigi Chung, Seoul
Gigi Chung, Seoul
