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The Seoul Art Space Yeonhui offers a media lab for resident writers. The city's first residency for writers will open on Nov. 5.
/ Courtesy of Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture |
By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter
Seoul's first residency for writers, initiated by the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture (SFAC), will open on Nov. 5 in Yeonhui-dong.
The Seoul Art Space Yeonhui is the first writer-in-residence program in the capital, offering studios for writing, networking and communicating as a stronghold of Korean literature proactively contributing to world literature.
A total of 19 writers including Eun Hee-kyung, Baek Ga-heum, Shin Dal-ja, Lee Si-young and Kim Kyoung-ju will move into the house as the first guests.
The writers in residence will be provided with lodgings in the center with easy access to downtown areas.
The guest writers can use their time in Seoul for their own work and research but they will also be involved in the city's literary and cultural life.
The authors may be asked to give lectures or readings as part of the cultural programs. The residency period is expected to last one to six months in accordance with the authors' needs.
Given that 64 percent of local writers are living in Seoul and the metropolitan area, the residency in the city is an indispensable facility for writers.
``The literature community among writers was almost dismantled in 1970s-80s. Here, we can communicate with each other regardless of generation and genre while enjoying freedom. The Seoul Art Space Yeonhui is like a nest for writers,'' novelist Park Beom-shin said.
``I needed a writing studio that is near my home because I cannot leave my house for long. Furthermore, I am beginning my serial novel from November. So I have to be immersed in only writing. This studio is particularly effective for me,'' novelist Kwon Ji-ye said.
Baek also hailed the art space. ``I released two novels after I debuted on the literary scene nine years ago. I am planning to finish my ongoing new novel by early winter in this art space,'' he said.
Yoo Si-yeon said that the art space is expected to infuse fresh ideas of writing in a decent environment.
``One creative writing technique is changing one's environment. I want to take a rest so I can produce good writing by leaving my comfortable and familiar home and family,'' said Yoo.
The center is surrounded by a natural background, hard to find in the heart of the urban area.
The building was converted from the Sisa Compilation Committee building which was used for research, compilation and education from the 1980s to 2000s.
It consists of writing studios, common facilities, a media lab, and recreation and seminar rooms.
The residency rooms are equipped with a bed, desk, bookshelves, a bathroom, a living room and a kitchen.
The art space has 20 writing studios ― 17 for local writers and three for foreign writers.
German author Andreas Glaser will be the first foreign guest in the residency. He will stay one week from Nov. 8 to 15.
Born in Berlin in 1965, Glaser is known as a writer who portrays the history of the former East Germany from a proletarian point of view.
He published ``Der BFC War Schuld am Mauerbau'' in 2002 and an audio book ``Zonenschlager'' in 2003. He also released ``DJ Baufresse'' in 2006 and will release ``Bambule Berlin'' next year.
The SFAC said that it will strengthen the foreign writers' residence programs to create a global network with world-renowned writers.
Before establishing the art space in Seoul, many authors used centers in rural areas such as the Toji Culture Center in Wonju, Gangwon Province and Residency for Writers in Manhae Village in Inje, Gangwon Province to immerse themselves in their literary works.
Celebrated writers Park Wan-seo, Eun Hee-kyung and Yoon Dae-nyung turned to these centers to work on their new works.
The Seoul Art Space Yeonhui is part of the city's efforts to transform abandoned spaces into creative places for culture and the arts, along with Art Space Seogyo, Art Space Sindang, Art Space Geumcheon, Art Space Munrae and Art Space Seongbuk, which are primarily dedicated to creative activities in fine arts. The Seoul Art Space Yeonhui is the only center solely for literature in the city.
chungay@koreatimes.co.kr
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