Ends of spectrum: new art spaces

By Ines Min

Staff reporter

The art community now has more outlets than ever for its fellow creative minds and aficionados. The establishment of two new spaces is continuing the diffusion and accessibility of art, though each with its own approach to exhibitions and work.

Art+Lounge Dibang

Nestled among the hills of Pyeongchang-dong _ known for its abundance of commercial galleries and affluence _ is a new contender for the attention of the arts-inclined. Dibang is a private-run, non-profit space that brings together the multifunctional elements of an alternative art space, though with a unique approach.

Inside the former home of the foundation's president, the renovated space spans two floors and a basement to form a gallery, seminar rooms for studying artists, and even an underground stadium-style theater built of concrete.

``Because the space is always open, people can come in and socialize like at a lounge,'' said Kim Jeong-yeon, the head of Dibang, adding that the large garden also encourages interaction in a natural setting. ``A lounge itself is more comfortable than just a gallery; so we wanted to use that concept.''

Though the space opened just last week with its first exhibition, the former-residence has a sparsely lived-in feel, combining industrial and minimalist design to transform rooms with brightly-lit corners. Standing from inside the garden, one is privilege to a breathtaking view of the world below.

Various exhibitions have been planned for the remainder of the year, but Kim is looking to implement artistic summer programs, including screenings, performances and educational lectures to make full use of the diverse structure.

``A non-profit space like this in an affluent neighborhood doesn't quite fit,'' Kim said, though that served as no deterrent for Dibang, which means ``threshold.'' The lounge hopes to straddle the two worlds, bringing an environment of low-key camaraderie without losing the traditional, contemporary art focus in a well-defined space. ``So even though it's a little different, we're coming in and breaking the stereotype.''

Art+Lounge Dibang is located in Pyeongchang-dong in northern Seoul. For more information, visit www.dibang.org (English site coming soon).

Ccul Pool

``That's our beautiful offspring,'' said Kim Hee-jin, the curator-director of the iconic alternative art space Pool, with a bright laugh. She was referring to the organization's sister project located in Hannam-dong, near Itaewon, which opened earlier this year.

It's difficult to define Ccul Pool (``honey grass'' in Korean), which essentially serves as a workshop, cafe, lounge, home, exhibition hall for resident artists, party venue, gallery and every other setting imaginable. Designed by artist and the space's director Choi Jeong-hwa, the multi-storied building is the latest in truly alternative art spaces.

Instead of renovating and stripping the building, Choi _ the mastermind behind the project _ instead focused on the existing elements, restoring details and containing its memories. Kim calls his design the ``counter-gentrification plan.''

With darkened corridors and a gritty, hyperrealistic feel, Ccul Pool represents a generation of experimental art _ which survives on bare bones government funding but predominantly on individual contributors and the artists themselves _ that has boomed over the past decade with the inception of these alternative spaces.

Distinguished by their multi-functional character, the new concept first began with Insa Art Space in 2000, said Pool's director Kim. ``When we were doing that, people didn't get it and always asked to give them a pinpoint answer of what the nature of the space was.''

Though often it was public officials who craved that definition, often it was other art professionals as well. ``They didn't understand the dubious nature of the multifunctional space," Kim said, although the concept has since spread and intertwined with the progressing times (Dibang is one such example of a contemporary interpretation). At the same time, the most important part of an art space is its function.

``The appearance or fashion of a program could be very similar [to ours] because the practices are there," she said. But focus should be in the contextual discursive, which is what creates the need to have that physical structure. Whereas alternative spaces are built around a group of artists, there are some hybrid spaces that are not.

``If they don't have that kind of community,'' Kim asked. ``How would they sustain those activities?''

Ccul Pool is located in Hannam-dong, near Itaewon. Visit https://cafe.naver.com/itwhoney for more information or call 010 3860 7972.

inesmin@koreatimes.co.kr