The focus of my photographic work is towards far-flung corner of society to reveal signs of inner meaning. My first work, Hea-seng-won: psycho prison, included ‘Photographic violent: alienated elders from German society’, ‘Voices of earth: Korean farmer’ and ‘the Western sea: mud flat at the Yellow Sea, Korea’, and the most recent one is called A Pleasant Day: people around nuclear power plant. These works demonstrates my interest in the theme of universal human life.

A Pleasant Day is shown for the prix Découverte and especially the work about people living around nuclear power plant. Through frequent visits around the four nuclear power plants in Korea, I focused on ‘blinded fear’ existing among people living there. Innate fear originating from nuclear development does not have much influence on ordinary men. People naturally adapt themselves, influenced by the optimistic advertisement of nuclear development that the nation broadcasts. I tried to express the fear in their lives in a simple, calm and quite manner. Although no one speaks of this well known fear, its true nature is embedded in alienation and indifference. People try to become optimistic when facing huge anxiety. This uncritical optimism is another name for a ‘given fear.’ A peaceful daily life was created by the nation. This is what I meant to demonstrate, this is why my work’s title evokes this peaceful daily life.

Chu Ha Chung