Arko Art Center Celebrates 30 Years in Daehangno
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
In the 1970s, Daehangno was the hub of youth and university culture in Seoul. As its name is translated as ``college street," it was known as the area where students from nearby universities gathered.
Now, Daehangno is filled with theaters, cinemas, shops, bars and cafes, but often overlooked is the Arko Art Center. Since moving in 1979, it has occupied the space formerly occupied by the Seoul National University College of Liberal Arts and Science in the street for the last 30 years.
This year, Arko Art Center is commemorating this milestone with an exhibition called ``100 Daehangro," referring to the center's address. It has reflected the changes in the cultural environment of Daehangno throughout the years.
``This is our 30th anniversary in Daehangno, but we didn't want to focus on celebrating. We wanted to have this chance to question ourselves as a public art center, and what kind of role we have in Daehangno," said Kwon Jin, Arko Art Center communications manager.
The exhibition has taken on significant meaning, as
May 26, 2009