Shine Brightly

A comprehensive yet accessible survey of Korean photography since 1957.



Shine Brightly: Korean Photography Since 1957 is the first detailed survey of Korean photography in the English language. Built upon original, on-the-ground research and firsthand interviews, it offers a focused yet accessible exploration of the key artists, movements and exhibitions against their political, social and economic backdrops.



Korean photography, whose practitioners have forged a unique visual language across seven decades, has been a vital part of the rise of South Korea's importance and influence at the heart of contemporary culture. Featuring over sixty photographers and 200 photographs, this striking book traces the development of Korean photography from its documentary roots in post-war realism and the avant-garde explorations of the 1970s and 1980s, to the key themes and artists present in the contemporary scene. Kim and Roussell not only present important thematic developments, but also propose new approaches to understanding the role of photography in performance and video art, the evolving aesthetics and symbolism of landscape photography, and the politicization of cityscapes around the turn of the millennium.



Bold, beautiful and richly detailed, Shine Brightly's unprecedented, curated journey through Korea’s photographic history will engage specialist readers and the general public alike.