Weekender Platoons expansion: Kunsthalle Gwangju

By Ines Min

How do you describe the ineffable? Perhaps the best way is to, simply, not.

``We are really complex and our strategy is to always not tell anybody a single sentence,’’ Christoph Frank, the director of Platoon Kunsthalle in southern Seoul, told The Korea Times, Monday. ``Because you cannot and, also, it gets boring.’’

Platoon, a private organization based in Europe ― with two locations, in Berlin and Seoul ― is collaborating with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Hub City of Asian Culture, to open a new venue in Korea on Aug. 31: Kunsthalle Gwangju. So while the art world prepares to pounce on the biennales opening across the country in September, those ready for an entirely different experience can first head here.

Platoon is difficult to explain to the stranger due to its ambitious identity and concept. In short, it is an artist’s residency, a bar, flea market, exhibition space, music venue, movie theater, restaurant, creative consulting agency (for brands ranging from the likes of Adidas Korea to Philip Morris).

It is also a network of artists and free-thinkers, providing a physical space ― a massive one at that ― for such minds to mingle.

Platoon structures are characterized by their makeup: cargo containers stacked atop one another in a utilitarian manner form open, high-ceilinged buildings that simultaneously shout ``militaristic’’ while beckoning visitors in to sit on its curiously short furniture that can multi-task as ottomans, chairs and tables.

The abundance of empty space in the open design layout lends itself to the cornucopia of functions Platoon serves. On the other hand, a bar snuck into a cozy corner seems the perfect arena for conversations with strangers. And, don’t smoke? No worries, the many stainless steel and concrete surfaces refuse to retain second-hand smoke and, though many patrons are indeed lighting up, the venue belies no carcinogens in its air.

Part of Platoon’s mission ― for this location ― is its dedication to youth and subculture, with even the website acting as a proponent.

``Platoon Kunsthalle is located in the upscale Cheongdam area,’’ it reads. ``The confrontation of subculture with the close-by design houses, commercial galleries and luxury brand stores creates a tension and interaction between the two worlds.’’

As for the government-run Gwangju location ― the idea of which might seem at odds with the organization’s aim ― it’s a slightly different story. But avant-garde artists can still find welcoming arms within.

``We don’t always have to just focus on subculture,’’ said Frank, who co-founded Platoon with partner Tom Bueschenann, explaining that Kunsthalle Gwangju is part of the Platoon outfit, by way of a project. ``But I think we found a nice concept where we can present fine art in a different way, because we have a quite strong concept of what kind of art we want to present, and this fits into our philosophy.’’

A sense of hesitation in collaborating with the culture ministry was never felt when first approached to establish the Kunsthalle, Frank said. The government, which is working to open a large-scale, transformative structure known as the Asian Community Complex (ACC) by 2014, seeks to develop the southern city into a cultural hub.

``When we learned about the history of Gwangju and the ACC project in general, we found it quite interesting how the government, over the last 10 to 20 years, started to found the Gwangju Biennale,’’ Frank said. ``And how they set up a strategy to make Gwangju a cultural and art city.’’

The local atmosphere was another factor in bringing Platoon aboard, the director said.

``The people of Gwangju already testified that they’re very forward-thinking,’’ he said, referring to the Gwangju democratic movement in 1980. ``They engaged themselves in the progressive development of society.’’

``This concept to make a cultural hub out of Gwangju means they are supporting the forward-thinking of these people down there.’’

What Kunsthalle (which means ``art hall’’) does best is provide a sort of safe haven for those creative minds that need an outlet ― whether it’s through a tattoo convention or a night flea market ― without discrimination from societal taboos.

``We want to introduce an international network,’’ Frank said. ``To express your personality is something that is international.’’

Without the need to cater to local crowds in either Europe or Asia, Kunsthalle provides a sort of amicable, behavioral free-zone. (``Like the common sense that you can go into a bar alone and maybe meet some interesting people,’’ Frank laughed.)

``I think it’s about mixing all the influences that you gain as an individual and making a space which is open to everything,’’ said Illa Kim, an employee at Platoon. ``Which gives you inspiration from everywhere, and not just the local aspects of something that everybody does.’’

Platoon has garnered popularity exponentially since it opened last year, and has become as equally hip as its amassed fame. Being the only organization of its kind in the country, a sense of novelty might just come with the package. But Frank hesitates at the thought of originating trends.

``Maybe we will become trendsetters, but (the clientele) will create new trends with their own creativity.’’

``I think it’s more like helping people who have vision,’’ Kim finished.

The opening

Kunsthalle Gwangju will open its doors to the public Aug. 31 with a 10-week exhibition by Swiss artists’ group etoy.CORPORATION. The private group, borne of the generation of Internet pioneers during the 1990s, seeks to disrupt, educate and inform the public with its technologically-based art. One such act of ``hacktivism,’’ or the use of digital mediums for a political cause, saw the re-routing of 1.8 million web users to an etoy-built site, demonstrating the power of the web’s interconnectivity and advancements.

For the opening exhibition, the group will install ``Tamatar,’’ 16 styrofoam balls that will communicate with their environment through digital data and human interactions. The objects, sharing intelligence through etoy’s sister project ``Mission Eternity,’’ deals with ``a dematerialized dimension of human life and digital data.’’

After the conclusion of the show, Kunsthalle Gwangju will move toward more complex events, such as panels, workshops and gatherings with local artists, in order to integrate the surrounding community.

``We have to take care that we don’t put people out of our project,’’ said Frank. ``We have to offer things where everyone can experience something.’’

The show by etoy is on display through Nov. 7. Kunsthalle Gwangju, which is part of the opening of the Asian Culture Complex in 2014, will only run for four years, before being taken apart to make way for the ACC.

For more details, visit www.kunsthalle-gwangju.com.