In the mountains of Galicia wild horses roam freely navigating a world shaped by both nature’s forces and human tradition. Despite the dangers of wolf attacks, bushfires, and poachers, they endure, a testament to resilience and coexistence. Every summer, small villages come together to shave these horses by hand, continuing a ritual that dates back to the Celtic era of the Iberian Peninsula. This ancient practice is not just an act of care but a profound moment of connection between humans and animals, past and present, myth and reality.
I explore how this tradition brings people together, forging alliances across time and culture. Through the lens of Galicia’s Ibero-Celtic folklore, I examine the intangible ties that bind us to our histories and to one another, questioning what it means to confront our ancestral past. As an artist whose perspective is shaped by nomadic heritage, I navigate this meeting point between worlds, reflecting on the movement of people, stories, and traditions that transcend borders.
My work invites viewers on an emotional journey, one that reveals how mythology, memory, and survival intertwine. In an era where cultural identities risk fragmentation, this work considers what we must confront, preserve, and transform in order to draw closer - not only to our past but to each other.
Exhibition: Zaha Museum.
Commissioner: Ramon Domenech.
Film Direction & Edit: Teyé.
Camera Assistant: Andrea Caruncho.
Colourist: Aaron Fuks.
Poster & Book Design: Mingyu Seo.
Pentatone Separation & Book Printing: UHWACOMPANY.
Publisher: MARTIANSTORY.
Special thanks to CHA, Kyu-Sun and Ramon J. Domenech.
This project work has received the proud support of Leica Camera AG & Leica Camera Iberia.
Supported by the Embassy of Spain in the Republic of Korea.
이태제 사진집 My World(s)
Published by Martian Story 마르시안스토리
All Images © TEYÉ
Size: 231 x 315 x 9 mm
Number of pages: 80
Print: Offset, Metal, Pentatone
Binding style: Swiss Binding (Softcover)
Date of Publication: 2022. 5
Edition: 500 Copies
ISBN 978-89-94155-84-5
Photo courtesy of Myungrae Park 박명래 작가
Exhibition: Leica Cheongdam, Seoul.
Photo courtesy of Leica Korea.
TEYÉ & Doyeon Gwon exhibition at Gallery Ryugaheon
Photo courtesy of Seo, Min-gyu.
NOTE:
-IPA 2022 1st Place, Professional Category: Analog, Film, and other
-IPA 2022 Honorable Mention Professional Category: Book Fine Art
-IPA 2022 Honorable Mention Professional Category: Book Documentary
-IPA 2022 5 x Official Selections in categories: Documentary, Photo Essay, Traditions & Cultures, Fine Art
-8th Fine Art Photography Awards Nomination on Professional section Wildlife/Animals category.
-MundoArti Virtual Museum 2022, Ministry of Culture and Sports, Government of Spain.
-7th Fine Art Photography Awards, Open Theme Winner.
