/ De Pree Art Gallery

No Motherland Without You

Images of North Korea by Tom Wagner

February 17鈥揗arch 16, 2017No Motherland Without You

No Motherland Without You: Images of North Korea features photographs taken by  during four visits to North Korea between 1995 and 2004. The work presents North Korea as a place of looking, of guessing, of watching and of being watched. It is the tourist equivalent of the biggest roller coaster, the fear and exhilaration of having done it and gotten away, to learn more about yourself and your presumptions of others than the place where you stand. 

Questions of propaganda and what is knowable are at the center of Wagner鈥檚 documentary projects. His photographs explore the impact of place and time on his subjects, not seeking answers but an entrance for viewers to create their own narratives and seek answers to questions they find within. Wagner is an award-winning photographer who has worked globally for magazines and Fortune 500 corporations in portraiture, news and stories, covering people and events in all facets of life. Currently based in West Michigan, he has lived in both Tokyo and London, and has done assignments in more than 35 countries.

Press release for No Motherland Without You 

Artist Talk

Friday, February 17 | 4鈥�5 p.m.
Cook Auditorium, De Pree Art Center and Gallery

Closing Reception

Friday, February 17 | 5鈥�6:30 p.m
De Pree Art Center and Gallery 

  • A gallery space featuring photographs from North Korea taken by Tom Wagner. The centerpiece includes a wooden pedestal draped in red cloth, with various items placed around it. On the wall, there are photographs including portraits of North Korean figures and images of landscapes. The setting includes a mix of natural and artificial lighting.
  • An art gallery displays photographs taken by Tom Wagner in North Korea. In the foreground, a large image of two figures stands behind red curtains. In the background, two people observe a series of smaller photographs on a white wall, with a larger portrait of two men displayed above them.
  • A gallery exhibit featuring large photographs taken by Tom Wagner in North Korea. The images depict various scenes, including a large-scale synchronized performance and portraits of North Korean citizens. The gallery walls are white, and the floor is polished concrete. To the right, a person sits at a table with a red covering.
  • A large display board filled with numerous small photographic slides, each showing different images, is set up in an indoor space. The board is supported by metal stands and surrounded by some bags on the floor.

Gallery Hours

惭辞苍诲补测鈥揝补迟耻谤诲补测:&苍产蝉辫;
10 a.m.鈥�5 p.m.

Sunday: 1鈥�5 p.m.

The gallery is handicapped accessible. Admission is free.

麻豆视频De Pree Art Gallery

workP. 616.395.7500