Alumna Mary Kang returns to campus to debut photo exhibition Somanu

South Korean American photographer and University of Texas at Austin advertising graduate Mary Kang debuted her photographic exhibition Somanu in the DMC on Oct. 9, 2024. The exhibition featured three of Kang's latest projects, presented through a photo talk. 

“Sonamu”, the Korean term for red pines, embodies resilience, strength, survival, and the continuity of life. In these three stories, I explore the themes of resilience and freedom, envisioning a space where kindness can be extended to ourselves, and beyond ourselves, even amidst the challenges and traumas inflicted by systemic oppression and colonial histories.

While the forms of oppression may differ, their causes are interconnected. I strive to connect these dots, weaving together narratives of struggle and survival. Highlighting beauty is essential to this process as well. My photography aims to serve as a space for remembrance and rest, both of which are important for self-preservation.

Kang opened up the photo talk with an overview of the work she does day-to-day. A slideshow showcasing several of Kang’s portraits rolled behind her. Pictured were artists, entrepreneurs and several individuals were simply Kang’s friends. She explained the significance of inclusion to her when she’s working.

“It’s important during the photographic process that people I photograph will feel dignified, especially those who have been denied such representation in mainstream media,” Kang said. 

Kang's mission is to highlight the esteem often lacking in current portrayals of people of color. Her work celebrates the interplay of individualism and collectivism, and exemplifies how people of color’s identities help shape the world. 

The first collection shared in Somanu was titled Glimmer, a series of shots Kang captured while visiting South Korea. The project was somewhat of an accident, created out of the nostalgia Kang felt for her childhood while there. 

“At the time I didn't have much, like, ease to go back to my motherland until fairly recently,” Kang said. “When I went it made me very blissful, and I kind of did this as a side project while I was there.”

The subjects in Glimmer are young members of a community in Bhutan, a South Asian country situated in the Eastern Himalayas. 

The next project Kang shared was Motherland. This collection was created during Kang’s first time visiting home on her own accord in 2022. Prior to this, Kang’s trips back were mandatory rather than voluntary. 

“I felt more urgency to go back at the time, because my father passed away during the pandemic, and I wanted to kind of go back and walk around the streets that I had memories with him and with my family from my childhood.”

Kang cited the importance of the Korean red pine tree, coined “Somanu,” as a driving force for the photos in Motherland. The tree symbolizes resilience and survival. Of course, Somanu would eventually become the name of the 3-project collection Kang was sharing today. 

Kang concluded by sharing her ongoing project titled Norigae, which she began in Killeen, Texas. 

“It is a story about Korean American elders who arrived in the US after the economically devastating Korean war in the fifties,” Kang said. “They’re largely responsible for the current wave of Korean American population, because they got to sponsor and invite their relatives, and the population multiplied from there.”

Pictured is a group of Asian American women Kang met at the Killeen Korean American Cultural Center. The photos capture these women off and on stage performing a traditional Korean heritage dance.

“I find that really meaningful,” Kang said. “I see that as a big form of resilience, as they connect with their roots and also spread traditional Korean values.”

Kang then introduced the dance troupe, who were present in the audience, prompting the room to give them a round of applause. She plans to be working with the group for another year while finishing Norigae.

At the end of the photo talk, a reception took place and attendees could view Kang's work on display.

Kang is based in both New York City and Austin, Texas. She is working on finishing Norigae, but is always indulging in other side projects and shoots along the way. To see more of Kang’s work, visit her website and portfolio here.