Photo exhibition promotes Central American solidarity
SICA, a Spanish acronym for the eight-member Central American Integration System, is hosting an exhibition with the Korea Foundation (KF) to promote their solidarity.
Seven of the eight countries’ embassies are participating in the exhibition, titled “The Colors of Central American and the Caribbean,” at the KF Gallery in Junggu, central Seoul, through Nov. 1.
The seven are Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama. Belize, also a SICA member, does not have an embassy in Korea.
Featuring 56 photos, the event is SICA’s first photo-based exhibition here.
Beginning on Oct. 2, the 31-day exhibition has been specially arranged to mark “Central American Integration Day” on Oct. 14.
The photos highlight the region’s shared history, culture, and tradition, in accordance with SICA’s purpose to foster political, economic, social and cultural integration.
For instance, several photos are about Spanish colonial towns and their architecture, the ancient Mayan civilization that prospered in southern Mexico as well as northern Central America — a collective group of Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala and western Honduras — plus indigenous people.
The exhibition also highlights the magnificent scenery of Central America and the Caribbean, including beaches, mountains and colonial towns, and each of the seven countries’ unique and diverse cultures.
Paintings, traditional dresses, handcrafts and artifacts are also on display.
For the KF, the exhibition aims to raise Korean awareness of SICA and serves the foundation’s goal of carrying out public diplomacy as a non-profit organization under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“This is the first time that these seven SICA countries have presented a joint photography exhibition in Korea,” KF Executive Vice-President Kim Seong-in said during the opening ceremony at the KF Gallery, on Oct. 2.
He said he hoped to see many more cooperative events.
Ambassadors and other SICA representatives attended the opening.
Dean of the group of Central American countries, Salvadoran Ambassador to Korea Milton Alcides Magana Herrera delivered a speech on behalf of SICA.
“Our ethnic groups, combined with our colonial period, and our post-independence historical events, left us with a collage of beautiful scenery, all telling a unique story, along with a combination of different backgrounds and races that shows our cultural colors and makes for this exhibition ‘The Colors of Central America and the Caribbean’ an excellent opportunity to experience our rich heritage,” Magana said.
He said the exhibition hopefully would “encourage participants to continue deepening their knowledge about our beloved region, our culture and talented artists.”
He also touched on SICA’s goal, pointing out it that it sought to achieve “the desire of living with dignity, peace, freedom and democracy; ideals which we specially share with the people of the Republic of Korea.”
Among the KF’s favorite photos are Semuc Champey (a national park in Alta Verapaz, Guatemala, known for its stepped pools), Toro Huaco (a traditional Nicaraguan dance influenced by Indian and Spanish cultural heritage), Alcazar de Colon (the first vice-regal residence in the Americas used by Christopher Columbus’ son Diego Columbus and his descendants on the island of Hispaniola, part of which belongs to the Dominican Republic), Los Volcanes National Park (a protected natural area in El Salvador that includes three of the 14 “young” volcanoes), 18 Rabbits (a stela of Mayan ruler Un’ah K’wiil who is also known as “18 Rabbit” in Honduras’ Copan Archaeological National Park), Costa Rican solidarity, and Embera Quera (a group of indigenous people in Panama living along the riverbanks).