[우리들의 눈]Art being made with eyes closed, but hearts open

2008.11.28

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The disabled are more talented than ordinary people in many ways. For some, they simply need a little help in finding and developing their talent.

Volunteers and art teachers of the Korean Art Association for the Blind help visually impaired students explore their artistic side -- and enjoy some art.

To ensure artists have somewhere to display their work, the association opened the art gallery Another Way of Seeing, exclusively for the visually impaired, on Nov. 20.

"Disability can lead to another kind of creativity," said Oum Jeong-soon, director of Korean Art Association for the Blind, in an interview with The Korea Herald.

"Another Way of Seeing" is a project the association has organized since its establishment in 1997. They hold art classes at schools for the visually impaired and do collaborative projects with overseas artistic organizations for the disabled.

Celebrating their 10-year anniversary, the association is holding an exhibition titled "Korean-Japanese Visually Impaired Students, a Meeting through Art" at the gallery Another Way of Seeing in Hwa-dong. Tom Gallery, an exclusive gallery for the blind in Tokyo, will partner with Korean Art Association for the Blind on the project.

The exhibition displays sculptures, paintings, and photos, which students of the two countries created. Participants expressed memory and hope in their sculptures.

"CM Punk the Wrestler," Jeong Mi-young, White Clay [Korean Art Association for the Blind]

Han Seong-hyeon, a 13-year-old boy, made a clay castle with identical-looking people walking around it. When Han was busy with his work, his teacher asked him why everyone he makes looks the same. "It's because Legos were my favorite toys growing up," he said. "I liked playing with Lego people the most. My sight began to disappear but I can still remember what the Lego people felt like. I think memories are stronger than sight."

Fourteen-year-old Jeong Mi-young made a clay figure of her favorite pro-wrestler and jotted down a wish. "Whenever my friend Chan-byeol makes fun of me, I wish that CM Punk could come to see me at school," she wrote.

"When doing art, the children seem to respect themselves and regard themselves as creative and special beings," explained Oum. "We give them only the highest quality materials. Like how the memory of something delicious you've tasted goes on forever, we wanted to give them a precious memory to last their lives."

The association hopes that eventually the visually impaired students will enter art schools and universities. To that end, they run workshops and seminars.

Oum points out there are many famous blind artists around the world. "Some of our students also have exquisite talents, enough to become professional artists," she said confidently.

To consistently display students' potential, the association opened the gallery Another Way of Seeing, exclusively for the visually impaired, on Nov. 20.

"We hope this exhibition space will be a springboard for young artists and we trust that our art world will be enriched with their presence," Oum said.

The exhibition runs through Dec. 20 at Another Way of Seeing in central Seoul. Admission is free. For more information, call (02) 733-1996 or visit www.ka-ba.or.kr

By Park Min-young

(claire@heraldm.com)

[퐁피두 특별전]French exhibit explores images of heaven in art

2008.11.26

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One can now see the original works of Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro, Henri Matisse and Marc Chagall all in one Seoul gallery, thanks to the Pompidou Center.

An exhibition of masterpieces from the French institution is running at Seoul Museum of Art in central Seoul. It features 79 pieces of world renowned artists, including ones displayed for the first time in Korea.

The Pompidou Center is the most famous museum of contemporary art in France. It holds more than 58,000 works by 5,200 artists and an average of six million people visit each year.

This exhibition is the last of Seoul Museum of Art's special exhibition series of prestigious French art museums. An exhibition of Louvre Museum was held in 2006 and one of Orsay Museum was held in 2007.

"This is an exhibition which tells a story," said Alain Seban, president of the Pompidou Center, at a press conference held last Friday. Titled "Arcadia: Heaven for Artists," this exhibition reveals the story on how images of Arcadia, or heaven, were depicted and idealized by Parisian artists after the 20th century.

"Bergers d'Arcadie, 'Et in Arcadia Ego'" of Nicolas Poussin, the great artist of French classicism, is the key to understanding the story. The masterpiece is not actually present at the exhibition but is projected on a wall made of strings at the entrance to the second floor.

Shepherds of Arcadia chat peacefully in the painting. One of them points to a tombstone, which reads "and in Arcadia there is me." The phrase implies that Arcadia is the same as everywhere else - people are with all their usual experiences, such as hope, joy, vanity and death.

By walking through the string wall, visitors can feel like they are entering Arcadia itself.

Behind the wall, a herd of sheep greets visitors, roaming peacefully on green grass which makes it feel like springtime. The scene is "Tropeaux de moutons," by Francois-Xavier Lalanne. The sheep imply the peace of Arcadia filled with poetry and music.

The exhibition is composed of 10 parts, each showing different aspects of Arcadia. On the second floor, visitors will find "The Golden Age," "Arcadia," "Joy," "Abundance," and "Recovered Arcadia," one following another.

Dider Ottinger, vice president of Pompidou Center and the director of this exposition, picks "Grand Interieur Rouge" by Henri Matisse in the "Abundance" division as one of the most notable works in the exhibition. Flowers in full bloom and vivid red walls light up the canvas, creating a warm and bountiful ambience. "Matisse is one of those who most believed in Arcadia, and this is his best work," said Ottinger. "Quite a lot of Pompidou's visitors come to see only this work."

Giuseppe Penone's "Respire l'Ombre" in the "Recovered Arcadia" section attracts many eyes - and noses. It is a room made of walls packed with laurel leaves. "Here, visitors can smell Arcadia, the blue sky, or the Mediterranean ocean," explained Ottinger.

On the third floor, divisions of "Harmony," "Vanity," "Darkness," and "The Lunch on the Grass" awaits the visitors.

Joan Miro expressed his vision of humans and birds blinking in the dark in "Personnage et Oiseaux dans la Nuit," in the "Darkness" division. The picture spreads six meters across and stands about two meters in height, the biggest in the exhibition. The frame needed to be separated and then reconstructed in Korea for transportation.

The exhibition concludes with "The Lunch on the Grass." Edouard Manet's work is not there, but interesting works of the same title, which reinterpret Manet are displayed.

Vladimir E. Dubossarsky and Alexander A.Vinogradov changed the characters of the picture to feature prestigious artists. Vincent Van Gogh and Edouard Manet hang around at the picnic scene, naked.

The tale of how Arcadia was depicted in the 20th century ends there, but there is no need to be disappointed. The story is ongoing.

"'The Lunch on the Grass,' which is the end of this exhibition is actually what we see as the start of today's contemporary art," said Ottinger.

The exhibition runs through March 22 next year. Admission is 12,000 won for adults, 9,000 won for students and 7,000 won for children. The museum is closed Mondays. For more information, call (02) 325-1077 or visit www.pompidou2008.kr

By Park Min-young

 

(claire@heraldm.com)

[욘복]John Bock rouses natural art instinct

2008.11.25

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To what extent can things be called art? This has been a question asked throughout history and John Bock makes it more complicated by replying: "If a Q-tip falls on the floor, it is art."

Arts Council Korea is offering "2 handbags in a pickle," Bock's first solo exhibition in Asia at Arko Art Center in Dongsung-dong and Insa Art Space in Insa-dong, giving visitors a chance to ponder this question for themselves.

Bock is a German artist who is referred to as the next Joseph Beuys - a master of avant-garde performances who passed away in 1986 - with his unique practices full of visual spectacle, plus sensational and dynamic action. The words most frequently used to describe Bock are "bizarre," "mad" and "grotesque."

It is hard to define what kind of art he does, since he adopts various forms of not only visual art but also literature, music, film, architecture and fashion. But one thing is sure: to Bock, art is simply a native language. He learns and expresses his thoughts by realizing the natural instinct of art, which is enjoying it, experiencing it and playing with it.

"PARA-SCHIZO, ensnarled" (2008), a 2-channel video work by John Bock/Anton Kern, New York; Klosterfelde, Berlin

In the Seoul exhibition, Bock performs - calling it a "lecture" - using various objects, then films it and shows the film, the costumes and objects he used during the performance. Thirty Korean and German staff worked together to help Bock realize his vision. "All the staff are artists," says Kim Hee-jin, curator of Insa Art Space. "It was impossible to work with an ordinary film crew. The only ones that could understand Bock's abstract orders were artists."

Bock said the handbag in the show title means a microcosm that is situated in another, bigger level of the universe, which he calls the pickle. It can be interpreted into whatever text the viewers want it to be, for example, Bock's performance and the film that records it, our body within the biological structure of the space or even Korea's political situation.

"PARA-SCHIZO, ensnarled," Bock's newest film showing in Arko Art Center, is displayed in two screens each featuring a person, offering an example case of how the title of the exposition can be interpreted. A boy and a girl are on separate quests for each other. Their behavior represents different, interpretative symbols of a relationship. They clash, they destroy each other and they reproduce each other in a cycle of mutual interplay.

All Locations in the film are in Korea.

"Korea is like a raw sun," said Bock at a press conference last week. "Almost everything I wanted to involve in my work was against the law in the United States but it is not like that in Korea. Korea is passionate and strong."

Insa Art Space showcases eight short films and four cinematic films that have earned Bock today's international acclaim. In a film titled, "Porcelain Iso-Schizo Kitchen Act of the Neuro-dermitic Barock-Fall inside the coffee Whirlpool and all of this really Expensive," Bock spills different kinds of sauce all over his body and floor. Also, ketchup squirts and fried eggs fly everywhere.

In "Lust Tarte," Bock is upside down, walking on the ceiling with his head stuck in a paper box on the floor. He constantly whispers "I'm scared." At the finale, he draws a woman's eyelash with the swoop of his foot.

Confused? Kim advises that the key to enjoy his work is to not think too hard. "Don't try too hard to find the meanings in it. Take this opportunity to rediscover how fun art used to be."

The exhibition runs through Feb. 8 but is closed on Mondays. Admission is 2,000 won. For more information, call (02) 760-4563 or visit www.arkoartcenter.or.kr

By Park Min-young

 

(claire@heraldm.com)

 

[프레 일겐 인터뷰]European artist blends East, West

08.11.21

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It took exactly nine months for artist Fre Ilgen to make the installation art "Your Long Journey," which now floats in the lobby of the Heungkuk Finance Group building in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul.

"To me, it is like a big baby," the Dutch artist said, chuckling. After months of labor pain, the heavy but colorful 14 pieces of steel, the largest indoor installation in Korea, were born. The curvy lines and abrupt balls hanging here and there are to signify the volatile, unpredictable journey of life.

Ilgen is a well-known installation artist currently based in Germany. His work can be found in many of the biggest cities of the world, such as New York, Zurich and Tokyo. "Your Long Journey" is his second work in Korea. The first one can be found in the Sindorico building in Chungcheong province.

Fre Ilgen with his installation artwork.

His work is like an installation version of Wassily Kandinsky's abstract paintings. "At every point, you will get a different view, it's like a view on life," he said, motioning the lines of the sculpture with his hand.

It is not only Kandinsky who inspired him.

"You will also realize that each piece is related to one another somehow. Everything is connected."

No doubt, this curious artist is very into Taoism and Zen-Buddhism.

"It is very interesting to think that everything is ultimately connected: me, you, this table and my work," he said.

Ilgen purposely did not name the separate pieces to emphasize how each are connected to complete a whole piece. But he encourages viewers to name the pieces freely in whatever way they want.

"For example, I gave a metaphoric name, "Story Teller," to the big sphere on the bottom," he said. "Viewers can touch it, hug it, and push their ear against it to hear what it has to say."

It was through an accidental occasion that he first encountered oriental culture. While he was in Japan making another curvy sculpture, he came across a letter of Japanese calligraphy.

"It looked similar to my work!" he said.

Seeing the unexpected common point, Ilgen was drawn into the fun work of relating western, which is his own, and Eastern culture together.

He hurriedly fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a business card holder embroidered with Korean letters.

"See this ring?" he excitedly points at a Korean letter which looks like a Roman O.

"I have rings also in my sculpture! Like this, if we look for it, we can find things we have in common, culturally."

To Ilgen, art is all about dialogue. In the case of different countries, the key is to build an inter-cultural dialogue.

"We're different, that's ok, but we have to find what's in common, in order to make dialogues.

"But schools only teach the differences of cultures he said. "Did you ever know that Kandinsky was much inspired from Asian culture? Students learn about his great works, but never get to know these details."

Ilgen mentions Arthur Schopenhaur, the great German philosopher, in the next breath.

"Not many know that he was actually very absorbed in Indian and Hindu philosophy."

He hopes that viewers will get to experience 'Your Long Journey' by themselves and understand the many cultures behind it.

"Just take a little time, walk around, and let your eyes follow. Feel free to touch them."

By Park Min-young

 

(claire@heraldm.com)

[실꾸리 사패전]Korea's boudoir culture revealed

08.11.21

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Here is a chance to peek into the dressing rooms of Korean the traditional customs of the Joseon dynasty in particular.

"The Exhibition of Korean Traditional Spool" is running at the Museum of Korean Embroidery in Nonhyun-dong, southern Seoul. A total of 150 spools are displayed.

"The spools, needles and threads reflect women's lives of their time," said Huh Dong-hwa, one of the founding members and the current director of the museum in an interview with The Korea Herald.

"This is the first time an exhibition highlighted one of the specific boudoir cultures. It will be a chance to sympathize with the women of the past."

Korean traditional spools [The Museum of Korean Embroidery]

Established in 1969, The Museum of Korean Embroidery is practically the only institute in Korea that displays the cultural assets of Korean women's boudoir, such as "pojagi," or Korean traditional wrapping clothes, needles, spools and embroidery. It holds more than 3,000 cultural assets, including a couple of treasures. The spools showcased at the exhibition vary in material. Those made with ivory or cow bones were only used inside the palace by the royal family and aristocrats. Commoners used ones made of straw, embroidered cloth or wood.

Look carefully at the spools and viewers can discover engraved letters. People carved little passages hoping for happiness in the family or a baby boy.

"It is amazing how the people of the past managed to do art even on these small things," said Lee Hye-kyu, the curator of the museum.

The founders of the museum busily ran back and forth from antique art markets to collect these items since the 1960s.

"These are very precious items, but Koreans didn't seem to realize that," said Huh. "So we decided to collect them, and preserve them before they all get lost."

Thanks to their efforts, the world now focuses on Korean boudoir culture. The museum has held about 50 exhibitions in many countries, such as the United States, France and Japan.

"About 80 percent of the visitors are foreigners, since the museum is more famous overseas than in Korea," says Lee. "This museum is a must-stop spot for tourists. Including those held overseas, more than 7 million people have come to our exhibitions."

It will also be a relieving experience for Koreans to find out that some of the long forgotten traditional culture still remains, although tucked away in a museum.

The exhibition runs through March 5, 2009. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.bojagii.com

[부부사진전] 'Love Profiles' ups and downs

2008.11.14

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All married couples promise to love each other for better or for worse, in sickness and in health. Unfortunately, not all of them keep their vows.

Photographer Lee Eun-joo found 43 high-profile couples who have stayed true to their words. Lee`s exhibition "Profiles in Love," at Sun Gallery in Insa-dong, showcases photos of well-known figures in Korean society and their spouses, including the world-renowned pianist Paik Kun-woo and his wife and former actress Yun Jeong-hee.

Im Kwon-Taek and his wife Chae Ryeong/Paik Gun-woo and his wife Yun Jeong-hee[Photo by Lee Eun-joo]

Lee took photos of the couples in recent times, and displayed them side by side with photos from their past.

Surprisingly, in each photo, the husband and wife look very much alike - in the past, but especially in the present.

"This may be evidence that they are becoming one," says Lee in "Profiles in Love," a book accompanying her exhibition.

"In view of the rising divorce rate among the younger generations, I also wanted to show the images of couples who are on their beautiful journeys as one."

Heart-filled essays or love letters written beside the photos give a hint about the secrets of their love for one another.

Jo Jung-rae, the renowned author of "Taebaek Mountains" and "Arirang," says that he would marry his wife Kim Cho-hye, a poet, again in the next life. "She really does not have any shortcomings, because I simply love all her faults," he says. "I am fortunate and proud to be Kim Cho-hye`s husband."

Im Kwon-taek, who won the Best Director award at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival for "Chihwaseon," writes down his love for his wife Chae Ryeong, a former actress. "My wife, who always silently gives me a boost, calls me a pillar. When she says that, it is much more moving than any line in any movie," he says.

Kang In-sook, wife of Lee O-young, chair professor of Ewha Academy for Advanced Studies and a former minister of Culture and Tourism, talks about how they first met as freshmen and how they now worry about each other`s health. "If you are so desperately afraid of someone`s body being gone, that is, inevitably, love."

The exhibition runs through this weekend at Sun Gallery in central Seoul. Admission is free. For more information, call (02) 734-0458 or visit www.sungallery.co.kr

By Park Min-young

(claire@heraldm.com)

[조각가 심문섭] Shim Moon-seup blurs boundaries

2008.11.10

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Artist Shim Moon-seup hasn`t held an exhibition in his homeland for so long that it is taking two galleries to bring the Korean public up to date.

Shim, whose works are exhibited worldwide, is holding "The Presentation" at Gallery Hyundai in Sagan-dong and Hakgojae Gallery in Samcheong-dong at the same time - his first here for 12 years. On display are some of the works from his exhibition earlier this year at Palais Royal in Paris and Musee des Arts Asiatiques in Nice.

Gallery Hyundai displays 22 of Shim`s sculptures, photos and drawings, and Hakgojae Gallery 17 of his sculptures.

Shim, 65, a professor at Chung-Ang University, is more famous overseas than in Korea, a main reason why he hasn`t showcased here for a while. He was busy with engagements in some of the world`s most artistic spots -- Paris, Milan, Tokyo, and Osaka.

At every exhibition, Shim`s originality shines.

This time, Shim has once again filled the galleries with creations that fall somewhere between installation and sculpture.

One such piece consists of a wooden board standing on one leg with a dark-wooden chair stuck to one of the ends, displayed at Gallery Hyundai. The artwork could pass for a table, but one cannot be sure it is one, because Shim has planted tall bamboos on it.

 

"The Presentation," bamboo, wood, 2008

"It looks weird, since a table is something that should be in the inside, and bamboo plants are normally found outdoors," Shim said. "But imagine the sun shining on the surface of the wood, and wind whistling through the bamboo leaves. This can be anything viewers imagine it to be."

In his earlier days, Shim focused only on a certain material in itself, pulling out its characters and qualities.

"But one day, I figured out that materials form stories within the relationships with their surroundings," he said. Since then, he has related his materials to their surroundings, letting the works speak for themselves.

"I`m just a messenger between the materials and the viewers," said Shim. "It is my role to present to the viewers something to imagine and talk about based on the stories the materials tell."

There is a constant message that runs through all his work -- that all things are connected and everything rotates in a big cycle.

A giant black wall is pierced with little square boxes to form the letter L in Hakgojae Gallery. Take a look from the pointy corner at first, and then walk behind the wall and take another glance. It seems like one is crossing the line between the inside and the outside, but at some point, viewers realize that there is actually no significant border between them.

Most of his other works also carry a similar message, by signifying various opposites such as the dark and the bright or the open and the closed, and then making the boundaries vague.

Even though his sculptures are eye-catching, do not miss out Shim`s unique photo drawings.

The artist took photos of the spots he wanted to install his work in, and drew the installations on the photos. Then, he re-photographed what he drew, and printed the results.

"Nowadays, the procedure of creating art is also art," Shim said.

"The Presentation" runs through Nov. 25. For more information, call (02) 734-6111 or (02) 739-4937 or go to www.galleryhyundai.com or www.hakgojae.com

By Park Min-young

(claire@heraldm.com)

[험블마스터피스] New eye for design in everyday life

2008.11.7

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Post-its, paper clips and ball-point pens are not the first things a person usually thinks about when hearing the word "masterpiece."

The exhibition "Humble Masterpieces - Everyday Marvels of Design," now at Seoul Arts Center, however, challenges visitors to look at them in a new light. The free-of-charge show is organized by the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Paola Antonelli, the senior curator of MoMA`s Department of Design and Architecture, visited Seoul on Wednesday to promote the exhibition. Antonelli is known as one of the world`s best design experts, and was recently included in "The Power 100" list of "Art Review."

"Everyday we use dozens of tiny objects, but we do not pay them much attention," Antonelli told the press. "But although modest in size and price, some of these objects are true masterpieces of the art and design, and deserve our admiration."

Antonelli first held the exhibition in 2004 in a warehouse in Queens, New York, while the MoMA building was under renovation. The budget was tight and no pamphlets were prepared, but the exhibition turned out a success. It showcased several times more in the United States and in Europe after that, but this is the first time in Asia.

In an effort to provide visitors with marvelous stories behind these little objects, MoMA did a lot of research.

"Some items with famous back stories were easy to collect, but for some, it took about a year. But it was all worth it," Antonelli said with a grin.

The rule was to pick something that is inexpensive, acquirable somewhere in the world, well-designed, and environment-friendly. It also helps if it has an interesting story behind it.

"When you explain the stories behind them they are even more beautiful," Antonelli said. "Did you know that the hole in the Bic Pen cap is there so that you won`t suffocate when you swallow it by mistake?"

Antonelli said the story behind the "I § NY" logo was her favorite. "I love it because it came out of necessity. In the 1970s, New York was under economic crisis. The city was dirty and there were no tourists. An ad company was hired to promote the city, and there, the famous graphic designer Milton Glaser just scribbled `I § NY` on a paper. The city did not license it, hoping that it could be used everywhere in the world for free."

Antonelli has also found some unique designs in Korea.

"T-money is something I definitely want," Antonelli said. "The suggestion box we put in at the New York exhibition was so overflowing with suggestions that it had to be replaced every three days. Let me know about Korean designs so that I can include them in the next exhibition."

Antonelli expects that this exhibition will be a way people can understand designs from a new perspective.

"People know designs and love designs. You just have to show designs in another way, with respect," she said.

Antonelli has another personal hope. "After seeing the exhibition, I hope children will come home, go into the kitchen and say `do you realize that we have a museum at home already?`"

"Humble Masterpieces -Everyday Marvels of Design" runs through Dec. 31 at the Hangaram Art Museum at Seoul Arts Center. For more information, visit www.sac.or.kr

By Park Min-young

(claire@heraldm.com)

[명사 부부 사진전] 'Love Profiles' ups and downs

2008.11.14

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Im Kwon-Taek and his wife Chae Ryeong/Paik Gun-woo and his wife Yun Jeong-hee[Photo by Lee Eun-joo]

 

All married couples once promised to love each other for better or for worse, in sickness and in health. Unfortunately, not all of them actually manage to keep their vows.

Photographer Lee Eun-joo found 43 high-profile couples who have stayed true to their words. Lee's exhibition "Profiles in Love," at Sun Gallery in Insa-dong, showcases photos of well-known figures in Korean society and their spouses, including the world-renowned pianist Paik Kun-woo and his wife and former actress Yun Jeong-hee.

Lee took the photos of the couples in recent times, and displayed them side by side with photos from their past.

Surprisingly, in each photo, the husband and wife look very much alike -- in the past, but especially in the present.

"This may be evidence that they are becoming one," says Lee in "Profiles in Love," a book accompanying her exhibition.

"In view of the rising divorce rate among the younger generations, I also wanted to show the images of couples who are on their beautiful journeys as one."

Heart-filled essays or love letters written beside the photos give a hint about the secrets of their love for one another.

Jo Jung-rae, the renowned author of "Taebaek Mountains" and "Arirang," says that he would marry his wife Kim Cho-hye, a poet, again in the next life. "She really does not have any shortcomings, because I simply love all her faults," he says. "I am fortunate and proud to be Kim Cho-hye's husband."

Im Kwon-taek, who won the Best Director award at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival for "Chihwaseon," writes down his love for his wife Chae Ryeong, a former actress. "My wife, who always silently gives me a boost, calls me a pillar. When she says that, it is much more moving than any line in any movie," he says.

Kang In-sook, wife of Lee O-young, chair professor of Ewha Academy for Advanced Studies and a former minister of Culture and Tourism, talks about how they first met as freshmen and how they now worry about each other's health. "If you are so desperately afraid of someone's body being gone, that is, inevitably, love."

The exhibition runs through this weekend at Sun Gallery in central Seoul. Admission is free. For more information, call (02) 734-0458 or visit www.sungallery.co.kr

By Park Min-young

 

(claire@heraldm.com)

[대구사진비엔날레 리뷰] Daegu Biennale captures charms of photography

2008.11.3

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The international Daegu Photo Biennale 2008 photo festival kicked off on Friday, placing the spotlight on Asia and featuring some 1,500 photos by 200 leading photographers from 10 countries.

"We have a lot of interest in Western photos but don`t really know about Asian photos even though we live in Asia," said Koo Bohn-chang, the biennale`s artistic director. The biennale attracts more interest this year since Koo is one of the top Korean photographers and also a well-known figure around the world.

"This Biennale is focused on three countries of Asia - Korea, China and Japan - and it provides a chance to learn about them," he said.

This year, the main exhibition views the artistic trend of modern photographers as well as that of documentary photos in Asia. Under the theme "Then & Now - Memories of the Future," the biennale seeks a balance between the two roles of photography: art and record.

"Memories of the Future," one of the two main expositions, holds 400 works by modern Korean, Chinese, Taiwanese and Japanese photographers at EXCO in Daegu. Each has a unique theme related to the countries` socio-cultural background.

"The Sensibility of Life: The Reconfigured Eye" is an exhibition of 12 Korean photographers who offer incisive commentary on modern Korean society. In "The Night Prior to an Event," Yang Jae-kwan criticizes the Korean tendency to put too much emphasis on the cause and result of an event without trying to understand the details or procedures.

 

 

Baek Seung-woo shows an imaginary world in his "Real World" series, for example by placing the Eiffel tower in the middle of Seoul. It is a satire on Koreans who live with fantasies about Western culture.

Fifteen Chinese and Taiwanese photographers express their unique thoughts about life in the exposition "While Alive." The photos reflect various changes China went through in the last 20 years. Chiu I-Chien depicts the hard lives of the common people in Taiwan in his series "Night Market in Taiwan." Liu Lijie expresses her feelings of the miscellaneous and seductive world in the series "Another Episode."

In the exhibit titled "Body Images in Digital Era," 12 Japanese photographers display bold and provocative photos. In "The Three Fates," Yanagi Miwa visualizes the Moirae, who are the three sisters of Greek mythology in charge of fate. The oldest - Cloto - spins human life out of her hair but grows old and miserable because she can no longer control her ever-growing hair. Anrakuju Emi posts a wall full of photos with body parts bitten or invaded by bugs.

"Photographs from 100 Years Ago," the other main show at EXCO, displays 350 rare photos of the three Asian countries back in the days when cameras had just been introduced as a new technology. The unfamiliar faces and the forgotten backgrounds in the black and white photos remind viewers of the importance of taking photos as a means of recording and remembrance.

However, the Korean section seems brief due to the dearth of old photos. "There weren`t many photos of Korea at that time that we could collect, and, actually, I wanted the viewers to realize that," Koo said. "The original role of photography is to record. If we can`t see that, in another 100 years we might still lack photos to remember upon."

Despite the smaller number of older works, some Korean photos come off as quite a discovery. The panorama photo of Gyeongbok Palace taken in 1888 is shown to the public for the first time at this biennale.

"It is the first time for many photos of the olden days to be selected and printed by a photographer," Koo said. "The qualities will be exquisite."

In addition, special exhibitions are held at the Daegu Culture and Arts Center. "Sway in the Space," for instance, introduces 10 photographers under 40 who sport their clever imaginations. The ring-shaped exhibition room is filled with their experimental work. Kim Chun-soo is one of them, an up-and-coming photographer who does not rely on conventional picture-taking methods.

"I take photos from the internet and modify them to create whatever I wanted to say or see," he said.

"Changing Social Landscape: Democratic People`s Republic of Korea 1950~2008" shows pictures of people and the environment in North Korea, taken by 12 well-known photographers like Margaret Bourke-White, a former photographer of Life magazine. The photos are displayed in chronological order, giving viewers a sense of how the country has changed during the last 50 years.

Contrasting scenes show the social gap, such as beaming faces of beautiful girls at a sports game and the shabby looks of an old woman giving a baby a piggy back ride, both taken in 2008.

Meanwhile, "4 Hidden Photographers," directed by Ku himself, exhibits works by Han Young-soo, Shoji Ueda, Zhuang Xueben, and Chang Chao-Tang which deserve better public recognition in consideration of their artistic value.

"The last 10 years was a very progressive time for Korean photography," said Wendy Watriss, a reviewer of this biennale and one of the founders of the FotoFest, the internationally known photographic arts and education organization based in Houston. "The biennale exposes many photos that show an Asian perspective which was not seen outside of Asia."

The Biennale runs through Nov. 16 at EXCO, Daegu Culture and Arts Center, Bongsan Cultural Center, and many other galleries in Daegu city. Admission is 7,000 won. For more information, call (053) 601-5052 or visit the biennale website at www.daeguphoto.com

By Park Min-young

(claire@heraldm.com)

[플랫폼 서울] A time to explore arts in Seoul

2008.11.1

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For contemporary art fans, there is no better time to explore Seoul than now.

"Platform Seoul 2008," is in 12 different spaces in the capital city, including the old Seoul Station.

The festival, started three years ago by independent curator Kim Sun-jung, a daughter of founder and former Daewoo chairman Kim Woo-joong, is very experimental in nature. This year the show includes works by 43 artists, including leaders in the field of conceptual art. Featured artists include the late Salvador Dali, Dan Graham, Martin Creed and Tino Sehgal.

The theme of this year`s festival is "I have nothing to say and I am saying it," taken from American composer and author John Cages` 1961 book "Silence." In terms of the festival, "It can be interpreted as `I have nothing to show and I am showing it,`" said Kim Sun-jung.

The entries in the festival are not just to look at. They offer a sensory experience and invite viewers to become participants to complete the works.

One notable thing about the festival is the way the individual exhibitions bring together imagery, sound, light, dance and theater, all of which interact with the time and space in each venue.

The displays in the old Seoul Station, for example, reflect the special historical and socio-cultural context of the building. The station is slated for remodeling next year, so this will be the last chance to see its original interior.

Yun Dong-koo installed a streamline-shaped structure of semitransparent netting with twinkling golden particles, which continuously rotates and moves up and down.

 

Martin Creed, "Work No.965, Half the Air in a Given Space," 2008

 

"It implies that time still goes by within this station that has been put to a stop," explained a guide at Seoul Station.

In "Bird`s Eye View," Ham Yang-ah shows a brand new view of Seoul Station through a video filmed by a micro camera, which she attached to a pigeon`s body. Ham focused on the fact that pigeons always gather near the station.

Janet Cardiff, a German artist, installed 40 speakers in a room that was once a popular restaurant. Each speaker plays a separate voice.

Also a performance, "Great Journey of Princess Bari 2008" by Musical Theater Baramgot is performed at the station every Wednesday through Saturday. The traditional mythic tale of Princess Baridegi is showcased in a modern fashion with music, dance, installations and multimedia.

The festival is also in full bloom at Sagan-dong and Dongsung-dong in Jongno-gu.

An interesting maze is prepared at Artsonje Center. Jeppe Hein, a German artist, created his "Invisible Labyrinth" with no physical walls. Visitors must wear a headset which is available at the entrance. The headset guides the wearer through the labyrinth by vibrating when he or she heads the wrong way.

Nearby in Kukje Gallery, Surasi Kusolwong, a Thai artist, is holding a performance, "Golden Chance." Kusolwong hides gold necklaces here and there in the building and asks visitors to find them. Those who find any actually get to keep them. His performance aims to get audiences to participate in his work and enjoy it. When The Korea Herald visited, some participants found the necklaces and took them home.

An eye-catching show awaits visitors at doART Seoul where a Chinese artist Xu Zhen performs "In Just a Blink of an Eye." A performer, supported by hidden apparatus inside his clothes, is seen frozen in the act of falling backwards. Move closer and viewers can see that not everything is frozen, the performer`s eyes, which slowly close and open.

Children will favor Martin Creed`s "Work No. 965, Half the Air in a Given Space" at Gallery SUN contemporary. The English artist has filled half the space in the gallery with purple balloons. Visitors are welcomed to jump into this balloon pool and enjoy the bouncy atmosphere.

A guided tour is available at all exhibition Locations. It is definitely recommended in the case of the old Seoul Station, where the guide not only introduces the artwork but also surprises visitors by performing Tino Sehgal`s work "This is about" on the way.

The festival runs through Nov. 23 at Artsonje Center, Gallery Yemac, Gallery SUN contemporary, Kukje Gallery, doART Seoul, PKM Gallery, Weibang Gallery, Songwon Art Center, ONE AND J. Gallery, GaGallery, Lock Museum, and the old Seoul Station in central Seoul.

Tickets are 6,000 won for adults and 3,000 won for students at Artsonje Center and the old Seoul Station. The rest of the venues are admission-free. For detailed information, visit the festival website at www.platformseoul.org

By Park Min-young

(claire@heraldm.com)