Special Message
Message from Photographer Lee Yong-ha
Hello!
A lotus flower does not lose its purity even in the midst of filth, and is not bound by any restraint. The Buddha’s teaching, “Be like a lion that is not startled by sound, like the wind that is not caught in a net, and like a lotus flower that is not tainted by filth,” gave me a deep realization.
While taking pictures of nature, I became more and more fascinated by the lotus flower, and as I watched the life of the lotus flower every day, I realized that it is not just a flower, but contains the truth of life. The lotus flower gives everything without expecting anything, and even the moment it withers, it conveys deep meaning. In the appearance of the lotus flower blooming under the hot sun of summer, withering in autumn, and preparing for new life again after winter, I saw the teachings of ‘impermanence’, ‘suffering’, and ‘no-self’. Especially, the mystical moment of the lotus blooming at dawn was like the ultimate enlightenment.
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I prepared this exhibition to share this emotion with more people. The lotus is beautiful not only when it is in full bloom, but also in the process of withering. We usually only praise its gorgeous appearance, but I felt a deeper emotion and truth when I saw the lotus withering. That is why I wanted to capture the entire life of the lotus in this work. I hope that this exhibition will be a time to listen to the language of the lotus and feel the teachings of Buddha and the principles of nature contained within it. Although there are many shortcomings, I would appreciate it if you could appreciate it with an open mind.
After the exhibition ends, I will go out to find the lotus again. And once again, I will try to capture the profound story that nature tells me through photographs. I hope that every moment of the lotus blooming and falling will become a seed of wisdom and bloom in your hearts.
Thank you.
Lee Yong-Ha
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