Diplomacy Journal David Kendall 기자 |Director of the Seoul Museum of History Choi Byung-goo (second from left), celebrates the launch of the Burtynsky exhibition with Canadian Ambassador to Korea Philippe Lafortune and his wife (center) alongside Marc Mayer, former Director of the National Gallery of Canada. Jang Sang-hoon, Director of the National Folk Museum of Korea and Choe Chong-dae, Senior Columnist of The Korea Times are on the far left and right, respectively. / Courtesy of Choe Chong-dae

The Seoul Museum of History is presenting Asia’s first large-scale solo exhibition of photographer Edward Burtynsky, the award-winning Canadian artist whose photos chronicle development’s impact on the environment. Titled BURTYNSKY: EXTRACTION / ABSTRACTION, the exhibition showcases more than four decades of Burtynsky’s work and will run from December 13 to March 2. It was organized to commemorate The Korea–Canada Year of Cultural Exchanges (2024-2025), which celebrates 60 years of diplomatic ties. 

The opening ceremony was held at 3:00 p.m. on December 12 at the Special Exhibition Hall of the Seoul Museum of History, followed by a celebratory reception. The event was attended by numerous guests, including diplomats, artists, and museum professionals. Among them were Choi Byung-goo, Director of the Seoul Museum of History; Han Soo, Director of the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History; and Jang Sang-hoon, Director of the National Folk Museum of Korea. Also in attendance were Philippe Lafortune, Canadian Ambassador to Korea and Choe Chong-dae, Senior Columnist of The Korea Times.

Marc Mayer, former Director of the National Gallery of Canada, provided detailed explanations to invited guests to enhance appreciation for Burtynsky’s work.