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Changwon biennale reaches out to art lovers
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An opening performance of Changwon Sculpture Biennale 2016 directed by Kim Baek-ki / Courtesy of Changwon Cultural Foundation
By Park Jae-hyuk
By Park Jae-hyuk
As modern art tends toward the abstract, it becomes less approachable to the general public, and most contemporary art exhibitions have often been considered as festivals for a handful of artists, disregarding the experience of visitors.
Changwon Sculpture Biennale 2016 challenges this handicap and tries to interact with more art appreciators.
“Sculptures to be displayed in the Changwon biennale are much easier to understand than those of other exhibitions,” the biennale’s artistic director Yoon Jin-sup told The Korea Times last week. “Visitors will feel comfortable with comprehensible art pieces depicting human bodies and animals.”
The biennale will be held at one outdoor and two indoor venues in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, Sept. 22 to Oct. 30. Titled “We create things, things create us,” the festival carries the message that everyday objects can have aesthetic value through interaction with artists.
“The Red Memory Series” by Chen Wenling
“Artists should focus on everyday life, because art and daily objects are impossible to distinguish nowadays,” said Yoon, who is also an honorary professor at Sydney College of the Arts. “This year is especially significant as it is the 100th anniversary of Dadaism, which pursued the marriage of art and daily life. Dadaism says our daily life itself is art and anyone can be an artist.”
Changwon Sculpture Biennale 2016 emphasizes public participation, through which art lovers can become active creators rather than passive appreciators, Yoon said.
Various donated goods, such as plastic bottles, nickel silverware and frying pans, will be hung on a 10-meter-long steel structure installed in Yongji Lake Park, where people usually exercise and rest. People can write their wishes on the objects.
Foreigners living in Changwon can also participate in the biennale this year in cooperation with the Migrants’ Arirang Multicultural Festival hosted by Gyungnam Migrant Community Service Center, slated for Sept. 30 to Oct. 2 at the biennale’s venues.
Korean-Chinese artist Shen Guang has collected several meaningful objects from expatriates to create a community artwork. Shen conducted a workshop with participants at the migrant service center in August, sharing his knowledge of contemporary and community art. Through the artwork, visitors can experience foreigners’ daily lives and learn about other cultures.
“Moby Dick (Vertebra)” by Daniele Guidugli
City of Sculptors
2016 Changwon Sculpture Biennale will be held in the capital city of South Gyeongsang Province for the third time, the hometown of five renowned modern sculptors ― Kim Chong-yung, Moon Shin, Park Chong-bae, Park Suk-won and Kim Young-won.
A pioneer of modern Korean abstract sculpture, the late Kim often transformed objects into simple shapes, pursuing a harmonious combination of Western minimalism and spirits of traditional Korean scholars.
The late Moon, who earned an international reputation as a creative sculptor with his work "Soleillonautes" in France, achieved a unique style in forms of symmetry, depicting nature and life. The other three sculptors, who also pioneered their own styles, continue to focus on their art.
In 2010, Changwon hosted Moonshin International Sculpture Symposium, named after sculptor Moon Shin. The international sculpture park was founded in the city after installing the artworks of the world-famous contemporary sculptors during the symposium.
“Cavallo Blu” by Mimmo Paladino
The symposium changed its name to Changwon Sculpture Biennale in 2012 to introduce the artistic sprit of the contemporary sculpture masters born in the city and the biennale has invited famous sculptors from various countries.
The biennale’s steering committee chairman Shin Yong-soo said, “Changwon will be the city of art and culture thanks to Changwon Sculpture Biennale.”
This year, the biennale will exhibit the art of those five masters. Titled “The past and the present of Changwon Sculpture,” the special exhibition at Sungsan Art Hall Gallery 7 is an opportunity for visitors to take a closer look at the different aspects of modern sculpture, including figurative and abstract sculptures.
Contemporary sculptures from Italy
Although the majority of participants are Korean sculptors, Changwon Sculpture Biennale seeks to grow into a bigger international event, putting together art from various countries.
A total of 116 artists from 14 countries will participate this year, a huge leap compared to 41 artists from 11 countries at the 2012 event. This year’s biennale focuses on the contemporary sculptures of Italy.
A number of renowned Italian artists, including Mimmo Paladino, Michelangelo Pistoleto and Novello Finotti, will exhibit their works in Changwon.
At the special exhibition in Sungsan Art Hall, visitors can take a look at the collection of artworks by Paladino, one of the most representative artists in Italy. His style, the trans-avant-garde, pursues clear images of objects, cohering into the theme of the biennale.
“Paladino’s works are easy to understand, as they exclude abstractness,” Yoon said. “If you see his horse sculpture, you can easily notice it is a horse, because of its clear shape.”
The biennale will also exhibit sculptures made by the winners of the Henraux Foundation International Sculpture Award, hosted by the Henraux Foundation, the biggest marble processing company in Italy. At Moonshin Museum of Art, the exhibition will feature new ways of interpreting traditional sculptures of Italy.
Opening Thursday with modern dance, sound art and nonverbal performances, Changwon Sculpture Biennale 2016 will run until Oct. 30. For more information, visit changwonbiennale.or.kr or call 055-714-1971.