Busan Biennale Becomes Major Art Event
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
The Busan Biennale kicked off Saturday, only a day after its more internationally renowned rival Gwangju Biennale.
Organizers of the event sought to keep its event competitive not just with Gwangju, but with the other major art events being held in Asia this month.
The Busan Biennale is divided into three sections: The contemporary art exhibition in the Busan Museum of Modern Art and Busan Yachting Center; sea art festival at Gwangalli beach; and Busan sculpture project at the APEC Naru Park.
Approximately 200 contemporary artists from 30 countries will be on display at these different venues for 71 days through Nov. 15.
Unlike the Gwangju Biennale, which has no theme, Busan Biennale revolves around the theme of ``Expenditure,'' which is based on a concept by philosopher Georges Bataille.
``All social, cultural and psychological order, values, and symbols, which dominate our life, are always produced excessively. Expenditure means aimlessly and unproductively `expending' and thus disintegrating excessive production. Only when the production-oriented system, which constantly overproduces, and its byproducts strike a balance with the collapse of order and the meaningless consumption of energy called expenditure can we understand the overall picture of human society, culture and art,'' the organizers said.
Curated by Hongik University professor Kim Won-bang, the contemporary art exhibition's theme is `` Expenditure ― as it is always and already excessive.'' The exhibition ``presents the driver of today's cultural activities through the concept of expenditure, shifting directions from existing production-oriented and appearance-centered values to the disintegration of supernatural values and power of culture.''
Visitors can find Japanese artist Yasumasa Morimura's video work ``Laugh at Dictator''; American artist Jim Shaw's installation ``Dream Object''; and Chinese artist Xiaochun Miao's ``Microcosmos.''
On Gwangalli beach, visitors can enjoy the sun, sand and art with the sea art festival revolving around the theme ``Voyage Without Boundaries.'' Many of the artworks on the beach are made of environmentally friendly materials, and will naturally disintegrate within a few weeks. Visitors are invited to not just look at the art works, but also participate.
Among the works on the beach and the nearby subway and cultural centers near Gwangalli are Thai artist Nipan Oranniwesna's ``City of Ghost'' and Korean artists Oum Jeong-soon's ``Walking in Mandala'' and Yang Ju-hae's art on the sand. Nightly performances will be held on the beach through the biennale duration.
Stroll along the grounds of APEC Naru Park to enjoy the Busan sculpture project which attempts to expand the concept of public art. With the theme ``Avant-Garden,'' the sculpture project is aimed at transforming an everyday space such as a park into a creative one.
The project, curated by sculptor Lee Jeong-hyung, gathered 20 sculptures by artists from 13 countries. One of the interesting sculptures in the park is ``Ancestor'' by American sculptor Robert Morris.
The Busan Biennale all-day pass costs 7,000 won for adults, 5,000 won for university students, 4,000 won for students ages 12-17 and 3,000 won for students ages 7-11. Visit www.busanbiennale.org or call (051) 888-6601 to 9.