The YOSIGO Photo Exhibition, held in Ground Seesaw, Seochon is the first individual exhibition for photographer Yosigo to take place in Korea. The exhibition displays photos of Yosigo’s encounters from all over the world, from European resorts surrounding the blue Mediterranean Sea to Miami, Dubai, and Budapest. The YOSIGO Photo Exhibition hopes to soothe the frustration caused by not being able to travel during the prolonged coronavirus disease (COVID-19) period, with the audience invited to take a journey through the photos taken from Yosigo’s perspective.

Photographer Yosigo, whose real name is Jose Javier Serrano, takes his professional name from the Spanish word Yo Sigo, which means "I walk." This name reflects his philosophy of moving forward regardless of failure and frustration and is in line with the purpose of the exhibition. Yosigo, who is the most popular artist in Spain, has numerous global followers on his social media accounts and has received glowing profiles in international magazines such as Kinfolk, Vitra, and Jack Daniel.

This exhibition provides an opportunity to appreciate the various aesthetic elements in Yosigo’s photos by staging them in unique ways. For example, the photos from Dubai are displayed with sand on the floor, and the beach photos from Miami are presented inside the water of a swimming pool. The idea of distributing photo cards to visitors so that they can take pictures with them is also groundbreaking. Unlike other photo exhibitions where visitors are banned from taking photos, the YOSIGO Photo Exhibition invites visitors into the photos and allows visitors to retain their memories for a longer time.

Architecture

The exhibition divides Yosigo’s work into three sections of architecture, documentaries, and landscapes, that include fine-grained work focusing on light to large-scale work conducted in cities around the world. In the Light & Shade theme within the architecture section, photos related to light are displayed. Being the main source of Yosigo’s inspiration, light generates warm colors and temperatures for architecture. Because the brightness and saturation of buildings change depending on the angle of the light throughout the day, he focuses on the intense natural light and shadows.

The Symmetry & Geometry theme neatly captures Yosigo’s taste by utilizing symmetrical composition and geometric elements. In the interview footage on display, Yosigo gives credit to the architects for his photographs and calls for more attention to be paid to them rather than focusing only on architecture. His affection for the subject of photography itself demonstrates his sincerity as a photographer.

Documentaries

The documentary section captures Yosigo’s experience in the locations where he took his photographs. The frame of each photo describes the time, atmosphere, and special impressions of the artist at the moment the photo was taken. Thus, the visitors can feel as if they are directly witnessing the situation in his photographs.

The photographs from Budapest, the place that Yosigo claims is the best suited to his taste, vividly express the clear colors of hot springs and the people who enjoy them, which are reminiscent of gods in heaven. He also focuses on capturing the atmosphere of the night in Japan by taking photos of the night scenery and characters. According to Yosigo, this was the first time for him to photograph a target he has not taken interest in. This new strategy of taking photographs is recommended for those who are feeling tired of photography; it may provoke the same excitement and joy that they experienced the first time they took photographs.

Landscape

In the third section, the relationship between beautiful natural scenery and tourists is reinterpreted by Yosigo. His artistic values are most clearly visible in backgrounds featuring beaches and the ocean because he was born and raised in San Sebastian, a coastal city located in Spain. In the Mediterranean Nostalgia theme, he captures the coexistence of liveliness and silence by photographing people who are bathing in the sea from a bird’s eye view. Through his photos, the audience can experience San Sebastian’s unique culture of loneliness and nostalgia.

The most remarkable aspect of the Tourism Landscape theme is the concept of Animal Turista, which depicts tourists obsessed with taking photos rather than appreciating the landscape. Yosigo criticizes tourists who are only interested in posting pictures on social media to show off rather than enjoying the scenery. Therefore, he captures the landscape in a way that minimizes the presence of people, through which he highlights the importance and weight of the location and integrates tourists as a part of the landscape. Yosigo’s central message has great implications in modern society where the true meaning of tourism is lost.

In essence, the exhibition is not just about holidays and relaxation; it also embraces generosity in a series of photos of various nooks and crannies from around the world with a warm ray of light shed on them. The exhibition is recommended for anyone who hopes to escape from the lethargy and frustration caused by COVID-19. Looking at the vibrant images of people swimming in emerald-colored seas can allow the audience to forget their daily trials for a moment and perhaps reboot their life with a clean slate. 

Exhibition Information

Title: YOSIGO Photo Exhibition

Venue: Ground Seesaw, Seochon

Date: from June 23 to December 5

Opening Hours: 10:00A.M. to 7:00P.M.

Ticket Price: 15,000 won for adults/ 10,000 won for teenagers