Art projects transform provincial cities
A peculiar café opened this month in an old town hall building in Banjuk-dong, Gongju city in South Chungcheong Province.
Dusty windows and dull gray plastered walls of the original building were nowhere to be seen. Instead, freshly painted windowsills, colorful banners, tables, chairs and fun decorations brightened up the space. The once abandoned site had turned into a bright, lively cove filled with joyful conversations and the aroma of rich coffee.
The café, named “Happiness for Daily Life,” is a creative approach by Gongju city, one of the many local governments of Korea where “design” is recently the talk of the town. Many cities, including Seoul, which ambitiously started the “World Design Capital Seoul 2010” project, are busy transforming their old buildings and sites into an artsy and a warm home-like venue.
Gongju city’s project is notable in the way it combines Korean traditional craft techniques with British contemporary designs, thanks to the help from The Korean National University of Cultural Heritage and the British Council.
“The village café is central to everyday life in rural towns in Britain. In an age of over-consumption and dwindling natural resources, designers in Britain are questioning their role and their relationship to society, thinking again and the process of design production. This project was aimed at showing a village café of the U.K. to Korea based on local culture,” said Clare Cumberlidge, curator of the project.
Four leading British designers -- Michael Marriott, Anthony Burrill, Linda Brothwell and Fabien Cappello -- were in charge of the building’s interior designs, furniture production and decorations.
“It was a handsome building but had a very bad ceiling, walls and the windows were boxed in. So we tried to show the character of the original building and reveal its handsomeness,” said Marriott.
“The first thing we did was get rid of the suspended ceiling of two and a half meters that cut half of the windows. It was most important to let in light. Then we reinstalled the orange door for direct access to the garden and stripped away old bits of old walls and plaster so that people can see the original walls.”
Under the directions from the British designers, students from the Korean National University of Cultural Heritage added some flair to the designs with Korean traditional craft techniques such as “dancheong,” or Korean traditional multicolored paintwork on wooden buildings.
Kim Baek-seon, a Korean designer who has been in the spotlight for his oriental culture-inspired-works, also participated in the project by filling the second floor of the building with his wooden furniture.
The café project is planned to last six months. It has yet to be decided on how the newborn building will be used afterwards, but Gongju city officials projected it would most likely be used as a cultural complex with a café and a museum.
Anyang city in Gyeonggi Province, on the other hand, is conducting a more full-fledged transformation of the city through the “Anyang Public Art Project 2010,” which is currently underway.
The project, which is celebrating its third year, aims to develop the city in a creative way with the help of many local and international artists, as well as the full participation of citizens from beginning to end.
“Everything, from civil complaints to everyday life can be art. We will showcase a brand new concept of public art which is ‘of the citizens, by the citizens and for the citizens,’” said Park Kyong, director of APAP 2010.
APAP 2010 is divided into three big parts -- “New Community,” “Open City” and “Nomadic Projects.” And as usual, all artworks created during the project will stay in the city permanently to enhance the cultural life of Anyang citizens.
“New Community” includes the establishment of new buildings such as an Open Pavilion, Open House, Open Court and Open University, built by international architect groups, which Anyang citizens can actually use.
Once the constructions are finished by the end of May, various classes and events are to be held in the venues.
Through “Open City,” construction of public venues such as Anyang Adventure Playground & Redevelopment Learning Center are currently underway, as are collective projects like the Seoksu Art Project 2010 or Museum of Complaints.
The creations are led by local and international artists. However, citizens can voice their suggestions and complaints about the projects anytime during the APAP 2010 period, which can be reflected in the results.
“Bang Bang,” a balloon house dangling behind a truck, is a representative work of the “Nomadic Projects.” Designed by architecture group Raumlabor-Berlin, “Bang Bang” is a mobile venue where exhibitions, seminars or parties could be held in.
To participate in the APAP 2010 project, visit www.apap2010.org. An exhibition will be held after the completion of all projects, from Sept. 5-Oct. 31 throughout Anyang city.
“Happiness for Daily Life” café in Gongju city is open through Nov. 11. For more information about the café, contact the British Council at www.britishcouncil.or.kr.
By Park Min-young (claire@heraldm.com)
Dusty windows and dull gray plastered walls of the original building were nowhere to be seen. Instead, freshly painted windowsills, colorful banners, tables, chairs and fun decorations brightened up the space. The once abandoned site had turned into a bright, lively cove filled with joyful conversations and the aroma of rich coffee.
The café, named “Happiness for Daily Life,” is a creative approach by Gongju city, one of the many local governments of Korea where “design” is recently the talk of the town. Many cities, including Seoul, which ambitiously started the “World Design Capital Seoul 2010” project, are busy transforming their old buildings and sites into an artsy and a warm home-like venue.
Gongju city’s project is notable in the way it combines Korean traditional craft techniques with British contemporary designs, thanks to the help from The Korean National University of Cultural Heritage and the British Council.
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| British artists discuss at "Happiness for Daily Life" cafe in Banjuk-dong, Gongju city in South Chungcheong Province. British Council |
Four leading British designers -- Michael Marriott, Anthony Burrill, Linda Brothwell and Fabien Cappello -- were in charge of the building’s interior designs, furniture production and decorations.
“It was a handsome building but had a very bad ceiling, walls and the windows were boxed in. So we tried to show the character of the original building and reveal its handsomeness,” said Marriott.
“The first thing we did was get rid of the suspended ceiling of two and a half meters that cut half of the windows. It was most important to let in light. Then we reinstalled the orange door for direct access to the garden and stripped away old bits of old walls and plaster so that people can see the original walls.”
Under the directions from the British designers, students from the Korean National University of Cultural Heritage added some flair to the designs with Korean traditional craft techniques such as “dancheong,” or Korean traditional multicolored paintwork on wooden buildings.
Kim Baek-seon, a Korean designer who has been in the spotlight for his oriental culture-inspired-works, also participated in the project by filling the second floor of the building with his wooden furniture.
The café project is planned to last six months. It has yet to be decided on how the newborn building will be used afterwards, but Gongju city officials projected it would most likely be used as a cultural complex with a café and a museum.
Anyang city in Gyeonggi Province, on the other hand, is conducting a more full-fledged transformation of the city through the “Anyang Public Art Project 2010,” which is currently underway.
The project, which is celebrating its third year, aims to develop the city in a creative way with the help of many local and international artists, as well as the full participation of citizens from beginning to end.
“Everything, from civil complaints to everyday life can be art. We will showcase a brand new concept of public art which is ‘of the citizens, by the citizens and for the citizens,’” said Park Kyong, director of APAP 2010.
APAP 2010 is divided into three big parts -- “New Community,” “Open City” and “Nomadic Projects.” And as usual, all artworks created during the project will stay in the city permanently to enhance the cultural life of Anyang citizens.
“New Community” includes the establishment of new buildings such as an Open Pavilion, Open House, Open Court and Open University, built by international architect groups, which Anyang citizens can actually use.
Once the constructions are finished by the end of May, various classes and events are to be held in the venues.
Through “Open City,” construction of public venues such as Anyang Adventure Playground & Redevelopment Learning Center are currently underway, as are collective projects like the Seoksu Art Project 2010 or Museum of Complaints.
The creations are led by local and international artists. However, citizens can voice their suggestions and complaints about the projects anytime during the APAP 2010 period, which can be reflected in the results.
“Bang Bang,” a balloon house dangling behind a truck, is a representative work of the “Nomadic Projects.” Designed by architecture group Raumlabor-Berlin, “Bang Bang” is a mobile venue where exhibitions, seminars or parties could be held in.
To participate in the APAP 2010 project, visit www.apap2010.org. An exhibition will be held after the completion of all projects, from Sept. 5-Oct. 31 throughout Anyang city.
“Happiness for Daily Life” café in Gongju city is open through Nov. 11. For more information about the café, contact the British Council at www.britishcouncil.or.kr.
By Park Min-young (claire@heraldm.com)
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