uri nara

Uri nara is a series of portraits of adoptees living in Korea. The pictures show them in their environment, in their home or close by. Every portrait is combined with an interview in which each all adoptee talk about their stories of why they are living in Korea and what it is like for them. In 2006 I realized that whenever Koreans talk about Korea, they would not say hanguk (Korea), but uri nara (literally our country) or uri nara saram (for Koreans). This kind of struck me, as this is such a strong expression of the speakers close relationship to their motherland. I don’t know if many adoptees use this phrase, as well, because most of them do not speak fluent Korean. Anyway I felt that this expression somehow summarises many questions formed in my work. Do the adoptees feel that Korea, their motherland, is „their country“?

I have not included the interviews here, but I plan on publishing them in the website as well. I might make a series of blog posts woth the interviews and maybe also some behind the scenes or alternative pictures as well. 
I made a handfull of books in 2008 with the portraits and the interviews and parts of the series have been shown in other publications since then. If there is enough interest i might make a new book with all portraits and interviews.