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Shanghai Tang / Courtesy of Gwangju Design Biennale |
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
Gwangju is already well known for its contemporary art biennale, but this year the city will host another biennale, this time focusing on design.
The Gwangju Design Biennale 2009 is expected to run from Sept. 18 to Nov. 4 at Gwangju Biennale Hall and at other locations around the city.
Under the title ``The Clue ― All That Can Be Desired,'' artistic director Eun Byoung-soo said the event ``reevaluates the truism `think globally and act locally' by examining five examples of traditional Korean culture.''
The biennale is divided into five sub-themes: ``Ot'' (Clothing), ``Mat'' (Eating), ``Jip'' (Living), ``Geul'' (Enlightening) and ``Sori'' (Enjoying).
``Because these five human actions form the basis of a complete and harmonious life across all cultures, they are also themes in which designers, who want to improve that life, and may search for clues. In the past, ideology, technology and market trends have dominated thinking about design,'' he said.
For the biennale, international artists and designers will create works inspired by Korean tradition, and explore the potential of Korean design culture.
The Clothing section will study Korean pieces ranging from traditional costumes to haute couture. One of the works, ``The Designer's Studio,'' will explore the creation and future of Korean clothing design.
``Mat'' or Eating, will emphasize elements of Korean culinary culture, such as the symbolism of color and of ceremonial table setting. For example, ``The Five Colors: 5 Spaces for 5 Colors'' tackles ``Obang-saek,'' the colors present in Korean cuisine: white, yellow, blue, black and red.
The Living section focuses on architecture, while the Enlightening and Enjoying sections explore ``hangeul'' or the Korean alphabet, and Korean music, respectively.
``For Korea, the exhibition will be a venue in which to lay the groundwork for a new design culture, propelled, as the title suggests, by assets arising from the expanded meanings of traditional cultural manifestations and their interpretations by international artists and designers,'' Eun said.
The biennale also has three cross-section projects ― ``Design to Save,'' ``Design to Care'' and ``Design to Share,'' ― that address issues of international design such as sustainability, universal design and social engagement.
The International Design Forum will be held Sept. 18-19 to coincide with the opening of the Gwangju Design Biennale. Experts in various fields will tackle the major issues confronting contemporary design today.
Call (062) 608-4224 or visit www.gb.or.kr
cathy@koreatimes.co.kr
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