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We have all gone through those days—days where we had nothing to fear of, giggled at everything we encounter, yet cannot be recaptured—our childhood.
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“I remember myself standing at the backstreet where a stationery store was located, with my hands full of cheap toys and junk foods; stationery stores were the best playgrounds in my childhood. Although local stationery stores are gradually disappearing in our neighborhoods, the memories of them are still clear inside my mind.”
- Choi Ye Ho –
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“After living in a city for eight years, I had to say goodbye to my neighborhood friends. It was quite challenging for me to live in the high school dormitory and adjust to the competitive atmosphere. Whenever I had hard times, I thought of memories with my friends at the elementary and middle school.”
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“Until now I reflect on that time because then I genuinely enjoyed my time with others, not obsessed with competition or anxiety. I tried to capture the bygone school days in my childhood.”
- Kim Seung Hye -
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“The photos taken attempted to capture fleeting moments in my childhood that will last forever as happy memories. People say that painful memories last longer than joyful ones but I beg to differ; my favorite memories are ones where I am having fun.”
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“For people who grew up in my context, I think the characters that I photographed will ring a bell or two. Forcing my parents to buy me happy meals just to get the toys that came with, and crying about not being able to ride the merry-go-round are just some memories that make me smile. People need reminding, once in a while, of the spirit they possessed in their childhood to receive a little “umph” in their present.”
- Kim Sun Min -
GT Photo Division
thegranitetower@gmail.com