We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jewan Goo. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jewan below.
Hi Jewan, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
My purpose found me through a need to understand and shed light on forgotten or distorted histories. Growing up in South Korea, I witnessed histories being censored, erased, and redefined by government agencies, especially those related to the Japanese colonial period. This drove me to reexamine and reconstruct these unspoken narratives through research-based photography.
By delving into these hidden histories, I realized that my purpose is to create a dialogue about power, memory, and erasure, not just within Korean history but in broader contexts where official narratives are often at odds with lived experiences. My work became about truth-based alternative histories, offering a lens that challenges and questions the mainstream portrayal of the past. This purpose keeps me grounded and fuels my creative journey.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
My work as a photographer centers around reconstructing obscured or manipulated histories, particularly those impacted by political forces and censorship. I am deeply engaged in uncovering and reinterpreting Korea’s past, especially during the Japanese colonial period. This era holds many silenced stories that exist only in documents or written records, without photographic documentation from the colonial perspective. I approach these gaps by reimagining and visualizing these histories through research-driven photography, blending art with meticulous historical analysis. In this way, I focus on creating truth-based alternative histories—work that invites viewers to question the official narratives they’ve been given and consider the perspectives that are often left out.
Currently, I’m working on a project related to Unit 731, a covert biological and chemical warfare unit of the Imperial Japanese Army active during World War II. Officially named the “Epidemic Prevention and Water Purification Department,” Unit 731 conducted horrific experiments in Harbin, Manchuria, on Chinese civilians, Korean subjects, Russian prisoners of war, and Allied POWs. These experiments involved exposing prisoners to deadly diseases, performing live dissections without anesthesia, and testing the effects of extreme temperatures and various biological agents as potential weapons. Much of this history was systematically concealed or erased after the war. My project seeks to uncover and present these obscured narratives visually, using dioramas and large-format photography to bring these hidden chapters to light in a way that resonates on a visceral level.
I find it exciting to use historical research and visual storytelling to challenge conventional portrayals and offer a new lens through which to understand history. Looking ahead, I have several events and exhibitions lined up, and I hope to continue expanding this body of work by diving into other areas where history has been rewritten or erased. Ultimately, I want my work to serve as a bridge between past and present, sparking meaningful conversations around power, memory, and resilience.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
As a research-based photographer, my work is deeply rooted in historical research, conceptual thinking, and academic analysis—qualities that have profoundly shaped my practice. I approach each project by uncovering hidden, distorted, or forgotten narratives, believing that meaningful work begins with a rigorous commitment to research. For me, this process is about more than gathering information; it’s about engaging critically with sources to construct a nuanced and authentic perspective. This approach ties into my belief in the democratization of knowledge. By visualizing and making these obscured histories accessible, I aim to challenge the controlled or censored narratives that often dominate public discourse. My work is both conceptual and theoretical, aiming to move beyond visual documentation to create art that questions, critiques, and reinterprets history and politics. This level of inquiry is enriched by a strong foundation in academic analysis, which enables me to synthesize complex historical and cultural influences into visual narratives. For those beginning their journey, I would recommend embracing an investigative mindset, exploring theoretical frameworks, and developing analytical skills. By doing so, one can contribute to a more inclusive dialogue and create work that is intellectually engaging, conceptually rich, and resonant with historical depth.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
Ariella Azoulay’s work, particularly The Civil Contract of Photography and Potential History: Unlearning Imperialism, has been instrumental in shaping my perspective as a research-based photographer. In Potential History, Azoulay challenges traditional narratives shaped by imperialism, urging us to unlearn and rethink history as it has been constructed. Her approach to reexamining history from the perspective of those who have been marginalized or erased deeply resonates with my own practice of reconstructing obscured histories.
Reading her work, I felt an instant connection—a realization that someone else was pursuing a similar direction, even if we work in different mediums. Azoulay’s insistence on questioning the accepted frameworks and uncovering alternative narratives encouraged me to critically engage with my subjects, not just as a photographer but as a participant in a larger ethical responsibility. Her work has reminded me to consider how photography, like history itself, can either reinforce dominant narratives or challenge them, offering space for suppressed voices and truths. In this sense, her writings continue to inspire me to approach my work as both an artistic and moral endeavor.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jewangoo.com
- Instagram: 8in.lab
