The Last Mermaid 마지막 인어

Peter Ash Lee's "The Last Mermaid" explores the lives and legacy of the Haenyeo, a remarkable group of women divers from Jeju Island. In December 2018, Lee journeyed to Jeju Island to photograph these fearless women who have dived for over two thousand years, harvesting seafood to sustain their families and preserve their island's cultural heritage. The Haenyeo challenge traditional gender norms as primary breadwinners in a historically male-dominated society. Through Lee's lens, we witness the powerful connection between the Haenyeo and their environment, and intimate moments with one of the youngest Haenyeo, who calls herself "the last mermaid." Her story, rooted in a three-generation legacy of diving, highlights the precarious future of this ancient profession, threatened by the demanding nature of their work and the impacts of global warming. This exhibition is a poignant reminder of climate change's far-reaching consequences on livelihoods and cultures.