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| French designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac's sculpture surrounding the statue of King Sejong the Great in Gwanghwamun, downtown Seoul, was unveiled on March 24 to celebrate the France-Korea year 2015-2016. / Courtesy of the French Embassy |
By Rachel Lee
French designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac's sculpture surrounding the statue of King Sejong the Great in Jongno-gu, Seoul, was unveiled on March 24.
The installation, "King of Signs," is part of celebrations for the France-Korea year 2015-2016 and 130 years of friendship between the two countries.
"I identified King Sejong not by coincidence but as an icon for his visionary modernity and the values he stood for: bravery, daring and an absolute open-minded spirit," the designer said. "There is in Korea the desire of a bridge between all creative fields, which is similar to how I see my art."
According to the French Embassy, the designer created the sculpture to show a different perspective of Korea and propose an act of historical recognition, as an ode to the Korean people and youth.
Sculptor Kim Young-won, who created the King Sejong the Great statue, approved Castelbajac's work.
Castelbajac, who runs his own golf-wear label, Castelbajac, is an acclaimed fashion designer who occupies a unique position in the fashion world. He has collaborated with leading artists such as Andy Warhol, Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat. The prolific designer has kept up with the times while staying true to his roots. A career highlight came in 2007 when the Fashion Museum of Paris honored him with a retrospective of his 40 years of design.
The Year of France in Korea events run from March until December.
On March 23, the new and exclusive creation of Jose Montalvo with the National Dance Company of Korea was showcased. Several other high-level events will show the best of France's creativity in all fields, including economics, education, science, gastronomy and tourism. March 24 also was the official day of Korea in French schools.
In April, an important exhibition dedicated to French luxury will open at the National Museum of Korea.
During the year, Koreans will be able to discover France's new talents: electronic music producers and DJs, graphic and furniture designers, young architects and comedy writers, for instance. Beyond culture, the embassy will also present top French entrepreneurs, engineers, scientists and scholars.
The Korean Year in France began last September.
Events included the traditional ceremony of Jongmyo Jeryeak in the Theatre National de Chaillot and lighting of the Eiffel Tower in the colors of the Taegeukgi, as well as the exhibitions Korea Now! and Seoul Vite Vite! and a Korean street-food festival in Paris.
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