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| The Korea Creative Content Agency will hold an immersive cultural exhibition as part of its project, "Age of Light," at the Seoul Metro Art Center in Gwanghwamun metro station in Jongno District, from Friday. Courtesy of KOCCA |
By Lee Gyu-lee
The Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) will be unveiling the second part of its immersive cultural project "Age of Light," also known as "Gwanghwa Sidae," Friday.
An immersive media art gardening space, "Gwanghwa Won," and an artificial intelligence experience booth, "Gwanghwa In," will be opening at the Seoul Metro Art Center in Gwanghwamun metro station, located in Jongno District in central Seoul from 2 p.m., on the day.
"Gwanghwa Won" intends to provide a virtual green space for people to relax and recharge. Under the three themes ― the light of life, the life of communication and the light of eternity ― the gardening space will have a total of eight immersive media art pieces.
The art pieces will use 5G network technologies to present real-time scenery of Gyeongju, located in North Gyeongsang Province, and of the Han River in Seoul, which includes visual and sound effects depending on the actual weather conditions of the two areas.
The exhibition will also include pieces from the England-based digital art design studio, Universal Everything, and the Germany-based media artist, Timo Helgert.
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| A virtual tour guide, singer Minho from K-pop boy group SHINee / Courtesy of KOCCA |
"Gwanghwa In" offers a glimpse of how artificial intelligence can be put into use. It will present two virtual figures as tour guides ― Singer Minho, from K-pop boy group SHINee, for the Korean version, and American singer Maria Elizabeth Leise for the English version.
The virtual figures are created with 3D technology for 360-degree content and are programmed through deep learning to provide information on the cultural heritage and tourist sites around the Gwanghwamun area, as well as to answer personal questions about the artists.
The state-run agency, KOCCA, has joined hands with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to hold a series of immersive programs in the Gwanghwamun area at the center of Seoul, starting last month.
The event aims to provide historical, cultural and art-related content for people to experience the country's latest advanced technology, such as 5G networks, augmented reality (AR) and holography.
Under the theme, "The era of light from 5G networks," the event kicked off its first program on Dec. 17 with concerts consisting of real-time performances from the artists on virtual reality stages.
The month-long event will be showcasing four more programs on Feb. 4, and the last one on Feb. 25.
Two of its programs, "Gwanghwa Won" and "Gwanghwa In," will be open for viewing from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on the site. Exhibition visitors must provide proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test result to enter.
"Gwanghwa Won" limits its viewers to 10 at a time and for "Gwanghwa In," four viewers every 15 minutes. Reservations for viewing are available on the official website of the festival.
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