My ongoing photographic series "Ha Ru" features the story about the essence of Ha Ru’s life after 100 days on earth amidst the COVID-19 pandemic while examining both parents' roles in gender.
I attempt to reflect on the vulnerability of a new life and the strength of motherhood and fatherhood during these unprecedented times, while I work to understand my own relationship with my younger sister. We have been inseparable since our childhood. Now, to see her as a Mother, as a giver of life, as a primary nurturer, and as a symbol of feminine maturity is breath-taking to capture in this series ‘Ha Ru’. I incorporated fatherhood within this series showing how a father develops a relationship with his daughter. As this virus continues to linger around, it is necessary to consider the fear many South Koreans have about the accelerated population decline from the coronavirus pandemic, which could affect Korea, a nation with one of the lowest fertility rates worldwide. Masking new-born babies addresses the idea that their lives during this pandemic become more precious than ever before as they continue to bring happiness to many Korean families while adding concerns and challenges to the pandemic.
