[대학로 100번지] Looking over past 30 years of 100 Daehangno

Daehangno, now famous as a popular spot for watching plays and concerts, was actually where Seoul National University College was located 30 years ago.

The prestigious university's college of Liberal Arts and Science was situated at the address "100 Daehangno." In 1979, after the university moved to southern Seoul, Arko Art Center was built there.

In commemorating its 30th anniversary, the center is holding an exhibition "100 Daehangno."

"The exhibition not only recollects the changes and memories during the 30 years but also emphasizes that its ongoing energy is still valid," said exhibition curator Kim Hyung-mi.

Her words sound more meaningful and somewhat ironic as this exhibition might be the last exhibition held at the center. The government is planning to turn the center into a cultural multiplex which will mainly feature performances, according to the center's officials.

The art community is already missing the non-profit public exhibition space which introduced many experimental contemporary arts.

"The center may have been a little isolated from the public due to the location. But changing the use of the center would be a big loss for the art community. We are seeking ways to better develop the center," said Kim Chan-dong, the center's director.

The center put in some major efforts in this exhibition.

One of the most attention-grabbing works is Koo Dong-hee's "Look who's talking."

Koo brought a live parrot into the exhibition room to question the role of an art center by comparing it with the bird which is bred and trained to please its owner. A host of toy birds keep the parrot company in its cage.

Koo also shows a video of the showroom which is being recorded real-time from the parrot's view.

Park Joo-yeon posted 100 original album covers from the 1980s on the wall. Some songs that were included in the original versions of older albums met government censorship and were taken out in the copies for sale.

Curious visitors can listen to the once banned music at "Take out Drawing," the center's restaurant.

Artist group Sulki & Min compiled the prefaces from Arco Art Center's exhibition catalogues over the three decades and bound them into a single book.

As the introductions usually explained the current issues in the art world and the backgrounds of the exhibition, viewers will be able to see how the art community evolved over the years.

For a similar purpose, Lee Mi-kyung collected the center's exhibition posters since then and posted them on a wall.

Meanwhile, Kim Seung-young filled the museum's walls with names. They are the names of possibly everyone who has entered the museum grounds at least once since its opening, including artists, officials, reporters, and of course visitors. Kim's work is often updated to include the names of the recent visitors.

The exhibition runs through July 5 at Arko Art Center in Dongsung-dong, central Seoul. Tickets are 2,000 won for adults and 1,000 won for kids. It is closed on Mondays. For more information, call (02) 760-4850 or visit www.arkoartcenter.or.kr

By Park Min-young

(claire@heraldm.com)