Taehwa River art fest to return in October

By Ines Min

The story of the Taehwa River in Ulsan Metropolitan City, on the southeast coast of Korea, is a fairy tale not unlike that of the ugly duckling. Once known as the polluted “River of Death” — a result of heavily industrialization of the city over three decades — the Taehwa has shed its image of condemnation since the 1990s to become a symbol of successful restoration in present-day Ulsan.

In an effort to not only cleanse, but beautify the river, the 2010 Taehwa River Eco Art Festival (TEAF) kicks off on Oct. 1 for a 12-day exhibition featuring 100 artists from all over the world. Hosted by the daily Kyungsang Ilbo and sponsored by the city, the four-year-old festival has grown from its original debut of 11 works into a 44-installation affair that includes artists such as On Megumi Akiyoshi and Kim Ki-ra.

Operating under the theme “The Road Above the Road,” the artworks seek to capture an appreciation for and recognition of the world that is becoming increasingly diversified. In a modern culture with resources such as technology and the Internet, opportune paths overlap and reach out to extend potential in both the physical and creative realms.

Renowned Japanese artist On Megumi Akiyoshi will be showing “Flower Dragon on Henoco,” a painting on fabric shaped into a voluminous bubble. Jennifer Macklem, an artist and professor at the University of Ottawa, will show a piece with long-time collaborator Kip Jones. American Timothy Blum will bring his explosive work “Homunculus #5,” which is comprised of such human elements as semen and hair, and Chinese artist Cuixianji will also participate.

Among Korean artists, glass sculptor Kim Ki-ra will return to TEAF after showing her work in 2009, and other names to look out for include the renowned Yook Keun-byung — both artists exhibited at the prestigious Documenta contemporary art festival in Kassel, Germany. Others this year include Lee Do-hyun, Seo Sung-bong and Jung Hye-jin.

The festival also provides a stage for budding student artists. Two works on display will be contributed by students from the art department of the University of Ulsan, a participating group since TEAF’s inception in 2007.

A reception will be held at 5:30 p.m. on the opening day, with performances by pop artist Nancy Lang — who performed at the 2003 Venice Biennale and is known for her outrageous public acts — and the duo Seoul BuBu comprised of Cho Kwang-hee and Kim Hyun-sook.

TEAF is held along the waterfront of the Taehwa River, which runs through downtown Ulsan, roughly. This year, pieces will also be shown at the exhibition hall of the Onggi Expo Ulsan, in conjunction with an earthenware showcase that runs from Sept. 30 to Oct. 24.

For more information, visit www.teaf.co.kr (Korean only).