Photographer Seunggu Kim’s series Better Days was inspired by the 2Pac lyric “time to question our lifestyle, look how we live…got me thinking ‘bout better days.” Kim’s work questions how South Koreans spend their free time, what it means to rejuvenate, and what connotes a respite. His photographs ask: when it is still possible to escape from the stress of urban life in nature and spaces of quiet, why do humans gather in places that offer none of the spaciousness and perspective of a majestic landscape?
Workers in South Korea spend more time at the office than almost any other country, exceeding, 2,000 hours per year on average. With this kind of pressure, vacation becomes compressed as well. Instead of leisurely getaways, many South Koreans are forced to find their relaxation close to the intensity of the city. Food delivery at the urban pool instead of a picnic at a bucolic lake. Camping out at a festival with a vista of high-rise buildings in place of mountains and open sky.
Contributor
Seunggu Kim lives and works in Seoul. His work has been shown in galleries and museums internationally. His most recent book, BAM ISLET, was published in 2019.
