UNJournal Jon Lee |  "The Pearl of the Orient - Sri Lanka" photo exhibition by professional photographer Park Dae-byung is being held from Feb. 21 to 27 at Maru Art Center 5 (2F) in Insa-dong, Seoul.

 

Sri Lanka, a beautiful island nation in the Indian Ocean, faces the southeastern coast of the Indian Peninsula through the Palk Strait, and was formerly known as Ceylon. 

 

 

A former British colony, the country's economy is still heavily influenced by Europe, with breathtaking Mediterranean seascapes, ancient cities designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and a well-preserved traditional culture, including the Siegriya rocks, considered the eighth wonder of the world.

 

Sri Lanka is often referred to as the "Pearl of the Orient" for its traditional culture, the world's most famous Ceylon Tea plantations, the vast grasslands of Vala National Park, where you can see elephant, leopard and monkey wildlife, and the Nine Arches Bridge, which is a paradise for rare birds, and the beauty of the country, which can be traveled by train.

 

 

The opening ceremony for the exhibition will be held at 5 p.m. on Feb. 22, and Amb. Savitri Indrachapa Panabokke of Sri Lanka to Korea will be in attendance, adding to the significance of the exhibition.

 

The artist's new works are an expression of the beauty of Sri Lanka, capturing the emotions and life of the beautiful beaches of the Mediterranean Sea, the traditional cultural relics of the fish market, the wildlife and birds, the beautiful nature and the pure warmth of the people.

 

 

Park captures the traditional life of people and fishermen with a beauty of moment, as they sit on the sand and mend their nets in the early morning before heading out to fish.

He also showcases the cultural diversity of this island nation, including the giant Buddha statues of the magnificent temples of Sigiriya, the Fortress of the Sky, a UNESCO Natural Heritage Site, religious sites, and city streets, through calm, idyllic landscapes and dynamic camerawork that is at times intensely realistic.

 

 

Sri Lanka is still a country that is not well known to Koreans, and we hope that this exhibition will be an opportunity to explore the stories and works of the artist, who has planned to introduce Sri Lanka, the pearl of the Orient and paradise on earth, to many people through this photo exhibition.

 

Meanwhile, Amb. Savitri Indrachapa Panabokke of Sri Lanka to Korea visited the photo exhibition and extended her sincere congratulations to Mr. Park Dae-byung on the launch of his photo book publication named 'Pearl of the East: Sri Lanka.'

 

 

The following is the congratulatory message delivered by Amb. Savitri Indrachapa Panabokke of Sri Lanka to Korea.

 

Photo Exhibition of Mr. Park Dae-byeong,

Distinguished guests

 

I wish to extend my sincere congratulations to Mr. Park Dae-byung on the launch of his photo book publication named 'Pearl of the East: Sri Lanka' and I am very honoured to be here today.

 

Looking through his publication, I was delighted to note that he had captured the very essence of Sri Lanka through his lens. His photos transport us to my tropical, island home. I could almost feel the warm sunshine on my face and hear the waves of the Indian Ocean gently lapping the shores. This is what good photographs do to you, it makes you one with the scene before you.

 

His book reveals the vibrant colours of my country, as well the warm smile of the Sri Lankan people. It reveals the rich cultural heritage, the scenic beauty, amazing wildlife and the long, sandy beaches that surround my island home.

 

It is this beauty and diversity that attracted people from all over the world to Sri Lanka since ancient times. They were drawn by the rich spices and sparkling gemstones. But today, Sri Lanka offers so much more for the modern tourist, from beach vacations, to safaris, to wellness experiences to adventure sports. It is also an emerging destination for golf, surfing and Buddhism pilgrims.

 

Sri Lanka has been recognized as one of the must visit holiday destinations in the world by leading travel magazines such as Lonely Planet and Conde Nast.

 

It is with reason that Lanka was once called Serendip, derived from the word Serendipty, meaning a pleasant discovery by accident. I hope this photo book serves the same purpose and help you discover Sri Lanka and inspire you to visit the country one day, and experience for yourself the beauty and warm hospitality of Sri Lanka and her people.

 

Congratulations once again to Mr. Park and this wonderful work and I wish you continued success in your career as a photographer.

Thank you very much.

 

The following is an article written by photographer Park Dae-byung about the beauty of Sri Lanka after his trip to Sri Lanka.

 

"Pearl of the East - Sri Lanka"
Sri Lanka, a beautiful island country in the Indian Ocean once called Ceylon, faces the southeastern coast of the Indian Peninsula across the Falk Strait. Away from the long British colonial life in the past, it is still heavily influenced by Europe economically and is well-preserved with traditional cultures such as the breathtakingly beautiful Mediterranean Sea scenery, an ancient city designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Sigiriya rock salve called the 'Eight Wonders of the World. 

 

 

Yala National Park, located in a vast meadow and a Ceylon Tea cultivation complex that produces tea for global consumption, offers first-hand views of wild animals such as elephants and leopard monkeys. As a beautiful, magnificent country called the "Pearl of the East," all of Sri Lanka is known as a paradise for rare birds with beautiful sites such as the Nine Arches Bridge that you can travel by train.

 

 

Photography, which I started as a hobby at a late age by chance, was so interesting and fun that I started as a full member of the Korean Photographers Association, and I was introduced to a local president (Mr. Jaya) in Sri Lanka with the introduction of an acquaintance and started a photo trip to Sri Lanka with three photographers, a driver and local guide who speaks Korean, and a Sri Lankan photographer.

 

 

The photo-taking, led by the warmth of the Mediterranean's beautiful beaches, fish markets, traditional cultural sites, wildlife and birds, beautiful nature, and warm people, began with a huge welcome from the locals at Colombo Airport. It was very fun to take pictures every morning from dawn to late at night, even in hot and humid weather this trip and all Sri Lanka is still a country that is not well known to Koreans. 

 

 

This photo exhibition and photo book publication were planned to introduce the East and on hard work throughout the other leap forward as a photographer and improve my camerawork. Everyone who put in their h moments, from losing food to the monkeys to getting bitten by leeches and losing a cell phone, will remain beautiful memories, I am also forever grateful to my wife and children for helping me take pictures without a word of complaint for a long time.

 

 

The following article is written by Kim Seung-gon, a photograph critic and principal professor at the Korean Academy of Photography, about Park's photo artworks and the beauty of Sri Lanka.

 

Sri Lanka as a Memory
They say, 'The best camera in the world is the one you have in your hand right now. And that's true. In that sense, anyone can argue that the best camera is indeed a smartphone which everyone carries around. Many even say that photographs taken with a smartphone turn out better. When you compare a full-fledged digital camera with the image on your smartphone screen, it seems valid. If you're satisfied with that, there is no need to carry around a heavy camera at all. So, it's certainly not recommended for anyone to carry heavy camera equipment that can be a burden on a trip abroad to relieve tension and fatigue in their daily lives and refresh themselves. Even more so for someone who wants to leave just a few comma mark on a pleasant trip.

 

 

Nothing remains unchanged over time, anywhere. A photograph is a record of an inevitable experience that a photographer could capture at any time and place. It is essential to remember that what is captured is a frozen moment in an endless flow of time. That miraculous moment will never happen again and cannot be recreated through a photograph. Even if one were to return to the same place later in the future. everything would likely be different. After returning from a journey, five or ten later, most people often reflect, perhaps once a week. "Why didn't I properly capture the moment with a real camera? If what was experienced there holds beauty, emotional impact, or memorable value. you will regret it even more.

 

 

The general idea is that photography only records the appearance of objective reality as a flat, two-dimensional image, and cannot reproduce the "atmosphere" or "feeling" of the place at that time. Hence, people often suggest looking with your eyes instead of the camera and imprinting the memories in your mind. However, no matter how good your memory is, you cannot keep the precious moments in the memory circuit forever. Through the process of analyzing the situation, deciding the framing and composition, determining exposure conditions, and choosing when to press the shutter, the experience of shooting the scene, such as the photographer's thoughts and actions, is incorporated into the photo. Later, looking hack at the photograph, it becomes possible to vividly recall the feelings and memories of that moment.

 

 

Known as the hidden gem of the Indian Ocean for its picturesque natural scenery of pristine seas, lush forests, well-preserved cultural heritage, and a variety of wildlife, Sri Lanka is a beautiful island that was recently recognized as one of the top travel destinations by "Lonely Planer" and "Forbes" and is a place that anyone, not just photographers, would want to visit at least once. When you think of Sri Lanka, the first image that comes to mind is the unique sight of 'stilt fishing' at Koggala Beach Fishermen patiently perch c vertically erected wooden poles in the shallow sandy shore, creating a scene found only in this location Fishermen who go fishing on traditional Oruwa wooden boats, the bustling dockyard where freshly caught fish are disembarked from fishing boats, and fishermen mending nets before going on the early morning "Madel fishing". Obtaining 50% of animal protein from fish, fishing is closely linked to the lives of Sri Lankans.

 

 

Photographer Dac-Byung Park captures the traditional way of life of the coastal residents and fishermen of the country living in conformity with nature against the backdrop of the sea. He showcases the cultural diversity of the island, including the UNESCO World Heritage site "Sigiriya", with a huge Buddha statue of the Ungjawa Temple, religious relics, and cityscapes. At times tranquil and pastoral, reflecting the cultural richness of the island, and at times dynamic and immersive, his work is presented through a camera lens that captures the essence of the scenes his photography conveys the reasons why we should bring our cameras when traveling abroad.