 |
In step with the upcoming ASEAN-Korea Commemorative Summit June 1-2, the chance has finally come to check out some contemporary photography and media art of the ASEAN countries.
The ASEAN-Korea Centre is hosting "Magnetic Power: ASEAN-Korea Contemporary Photography & Media Art Exhibition" at nine different venues in Seoul. The exhibition will showcase 160 works by 30 international and Korean artists.
There have not been many exhibitions in Korea that introduced the work of ASEAN artists. In fact, this is the first exhibition to cover ASEAN media art from 10 different countries, according to Kim Yu-yeon, Artistic Director of the exhibition.
"'Magnetic power' signifies the power of the exhibited works which draws viewers towards them. Once the viewers are attracted to the works, they can better understand the different cultures that lie beneath them," Kim said at a recent press conference.
"This exhibition aims to build a deep mutual understanding of each country's everyday lives and cultures through photos and videos. It will also serve to challenge and examine preconceptions that come from different political, economical, religious and cultural backgrounds."
The exhibition is underway at Gallery Sun Contemporary, Gallery Jinsun, Lee C Gallery, Hanbyukwon Gallery, Gallery Doll, Kimhyunjoo Gallery and Gallery Sang in Samcheong-dong and Palpan-dong, central Seoul, Gallery Jungmiso near Daehangno, also in central Seoul, and Coreana Museum of Art in Apgujeong-dong, southern Seoul.
Twenty artists from ASEAN countries and 10 Korean artists are participating in the exhibition.
The ASEAN participants include Barri Sli and Sharrife Jocklin from Brunei, Lyno Vuth and Vandy Rattana from Cambodia, Ade Darmanwan and Kuswidananto a.k.a Jompet from Indonesia, Wong Hoy Cheong and Yee I-Lann from Malaysia, Nge Lay and Phyu Mon from Myanmar, Cocoy Lumbao and Poklong Anading from Philippines, Ho Tzu Nyen and Matthew Ngui from Singapore, Montri Toemsombat and Tawatchai Puntusawasdi from Thailand and Hoang Duong Cam and Tuan Andrew Nguyen from Vietnam.
Participating Korean artists are Koo Dong-hee, Jang Hey-yeun, Rhee Jaye, Kim Ok-sun, Lee Sang-hyun, Jeong So-youn, Kim Sung-soo, Noh Sun-tag, Jung Yeon-doo and Chang Yoon-seong.
The Artistic Director carefully handpicked the artists after visiting many art galleries and biennales that took place in the ASEAN countries. She looked for the artists whose works reflected their nations' identities. Korean Embassies at those countries were a big help when it came to actually contacting the artists, Kim said.
Kim said that the exhibition has a central theme that holds the venues together.
"The artworks reflect various changes that are occurring in the ASEAN countries. They imply that nothing is stagnant but everything, including people, thoughts and environment, constantly change," Kim said.
Rather, the exhibition has benefitted from the merit of having many venues - that each can present a different ambience according to the sub-themes.
"Take Hanbyukwon Gallery for example. The exhibits there mainly talk about the countries' roots. Yee I-Lann, one of the artists whose exhibits are showcased at the gallery, expressed Malaysia's memories and identities through the photo of water buffalos. "The exhibits in Gallery Doll, on the other hand, feature 'scent.' The artists depicted their wishes or perhaps the nation's hopes upon scents through photographs, like Lyno Vuth who captured the smoke rising from incense sticks in his work 'Blue Angels,'" Kim said.
Despite the artists' efforts, however, photography and media art are still unfamiliar genres, not often welcomed in ASEAN countries.
"The war has killed 80 percent of (Cambodia's) intellectuals, mostly artists. Among 15 million people in Cambodia, less than 100 are artists," said Cambodian artist Vandy Rattana.
"We don't have much support from the government now, probably because art is not so important in living. But I think art brings peace, awareness and creativity. I am proud of the situation now that young artists are slowly emerging in my country during the last five years," Rattana said.
Another artist, Barri Sli from Brunei, could not hide his excitement for participating in this exhibition.
"It is still minimal so far, but the number of photographers and media artists is growing in Brunei. Art galleries and museums are still quite limited however. This exhibition could be an opportunity for our government to see that the country has contemporary art. So in the future, we might hold a Brunei-Korea art show in Brunei," Sli said eagerly.
Established in March, this year, ASEAN-Korea Centre is an intergovernmental organization that consists of Korea and 10 ASEAN member countries - Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, The Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
It seeks to promote trade, investment and tourism and deepen mutual understanding through cultural and social exchanges among the countries.
The exhibition runs through June 6. For more information, call (02) 2287-1115 or visit www.aseankorea.org.
By Park Min-young
(claire@heraldm.com)
댓글 없음:
댓글 쓰기