Former Defense Site Turns Into Art Space
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
The former Defense Security Command site in Sogyeok-dong may be old and rundown, and overlooked by passersby and tourists, but it is still a historically significant site.
Popularly known as ``Gimusa,'' it was also the location of Gyujanggak (Royal Library), Sogyeokseo (National Taoist Temple) and Saganwon (Office of the Censor-General) during the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910). The building is registered as Modern Cultural Property No. 375. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has announced plans to turn it into the National Museum of Contemporary Art in Seoul by 2012.
The transition from a defense site into an art museum seems to be a tricky one. The newly opened exhibition ``Platform 2009: Platform in Gimusa'' hopes to make the transition easier.
Organized by Samuso: Space for Contemporary Art, it is the fourth in a series of five contemporary art festivals. Platform 2009 gives a new stage where artists can experiment and present new ideas about art.
``Under the theme Void of Memory, Platform in Gimusa is an exhibition that rediscovers the spaces that have been unused or forgotten for a period of time. Gimusa, the old site of the Defense Security Command, is a meaningful place historically, architecturally, and culturally, because it has undergone several transformations up until today,''' organizers said.
``Before the site will be converted into a museum that will be used as space for international exchanges in contemporary art, Platform in Gimusa will be the bridge,'' they added.
The exhibition is curated by Kim Sun-jung, professor at the Korean National University of Arts School of Visual Arts, and Mami Kataoka, chief curator of Mori Art Museum, Tokyo.
It is divided into four sections: ``P1'' main exhibition; ``P2'' featuring artists recommended by other artists; ``P3'' featuring projects by invited curators; and ``P4'' featuring projects by art institutions.
During a press preview Monday, reporters had a chance to look at the rooms which have been turned into art spaces. Many of the artists were still installing their art works, so the halls were dusty and littered with wood planks and other materials.
Acclaimed Korean artist Lee Bul's ``Aubade,'' a futuristic aluminum structure with LED lights, glows eerily in the middle of the darkened auditorium. The structure was originally shown in her solo show ``On Every New Shadow'' at the Cartier Foundation, Paris in 2007.
Artist Magnus Bartas made an experimental video about actress Choi Eun-hee, who along with her husband-director Shin Sang-ok, were kidnapped to North Korea on the orders by Kim Jong-il in 1978. The couple were ordered to make films, one of which was the giant monster film ``Pulgasari.'' Bartas said he went to Pyongyang, under the guise of a tourist, and secretly filmed scenes of life in North Korea and the mass games.
Artist group AVPD has turned a room into a maze with mirrors, causing a sense of disorientation in people who go through it. ``The work is opposite of how we deal with time and space. You can experience linear space but you are moving through a circular space. This is a new experience of seeing people,'' AVPD's Aslak Vibaek said.
``Don't be scared,''' artist Chosil Kil told reporters, before setting off one of the cans in her work ``The Breathtaking.'' A purplish mushroom cloud of smoke quickly rose from the can and filled the room.
With the diversity and scale of the works, Platform in KIMUSA almost feels like a contemporary art biennale. Aside from the exhibits, there are also public art projects, symposiums, seminars, workshops, lectures and educational programs.
Jung Marie will perform ``Marie, the Little Bird'' Sept. 12 at 4 p.m. in the main building at Kimusa. A video screening of Chinese artist Ai Weiwei's ``Fairytale'' will be held Oct. 3, 10 and 17 at 2 p.m., Arthall B1, Artsonje Center.
Platform in Kimusa is open everyday through Sept. 25. Tickets are 8,000 won for adults, 4,000 won for students. Bookings can be done at ticket.interpark.com. Call Artsonje Center (02) 733-8945. Visit www.platformseoul.org.