Do not go gentle into that good night, old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light, though wise men at their end know dark is right, because their words had forked no lightning they, do not go gentle into that good night.
Galerie BHAK hosts exhibition for young people under theme of sustainability
Lee Jung-hyun, program director of Galerie BHAK's net-zero emissions promotion project "Next Sustainable Design Project," second from left, poses with the project's participants at the gallery in Seoul, Aug. 23. / Courtesy of Galerie BHAK
By Jhoo Dong-chan
Galerie BHAK hosted an exhibition for young people under the theme of carbon neutrality for two days from Aug. 23.
The annual exhibition "Next Sustainable Design Project" is the second installment of its kind, following its introduction last year by Galerie BHAK Director Bhak Jong-hyuk and Samsung Art and Design Institute graduate Lee Jung-hyun. The initiative aims to promote the concept of net-zero emissions among young students.
To analyze and visualize individual carbon footprints through design, the exhibition tracked students' daily routines — such as listening to music, exercising, and collecting sneakers — to illustrate how these activities contribute to carbon emissions.
"I used to collect sneakers as a hobby," Lee Min-jun, a young artist who participated in the program, said.
"Now, I want to look into brands that produce shoes with synthetic materials."
Another young artist, Kim Tae-hee, who has participated in the exhibition for two years in a row, also said she was very surprised that some activities, like listening to music, which she hadn't previously associated with environmental impact, could cause carbon emission.
Lee, who also serves as the program's director, stated that young people need to think creatively in art and design, outside the boundaries of the current educational system.
"I want more students to explore various fields by concretizing their ideas through design, not merely from an aesthetic perspective but as a visualization of thought," she said.
Bhak said the exhibition reminded him of the 1993 exhibition "111 Artists Who Love Peace," which raised funds for the International Atomic Energy Agency to promote nuclear peace by donating artworks.
"(This year's exhibition) could be another starting point where art can send a powerful message to the world," he said.