Busan Biennale 2004, Busan Sculpture Project
22 May – 29 August 2004
Eulsukdo cultural Center Busan, Korea
Theme: Chasm -Crossing Over
Host: Busan Metropolitan City
Busan Biennale Organizing Committee
Organiser: Busan Biennale Organizing Committee
Contact: busanbiennal@korea.com
The Busan Biennale 2004 is composed of three separate yet inter-related projects: Busan Sculpture Project, Sea Art Festival and Contemporary Art Exhibition. The Busan Sculpture Project will have its official opening on May 22, 2004. The Contemporary Art Exhibition and Sea Art Festival will open on Aug. 21 and Oct. 9, 2004 respectively.
Busan Sculpture Project
May 22 – August 29, 2004
The Busan Sculpture Project will present large-scale outdoor sculptures to be placed around Eulsukdo Culture Centre. Eulsukdo is the place where Nakdong River meets the sea and is famous spot for migratory birds. Under the theme of ‘Chasm-Cross Over,’ the aim of this project is to create an environment where artworks are integrated and harmonized with their natural surroundings.
20 international artists, who work mainly in stone, steel and bronze for public sculpture, are participating to realize their sculptural projects in the city of Busan. Their works to be installed in Eulsukdo are intended to be accessible to the public allowing people to touch, use and enjoy them both physically and mentally. The artists will present interactive and accessible works in an effort to bridge the gap between art and the general public.
The intention of the artists is to create works that can be easily appreciated and are more accessible for viewers in theme and design. Some works deal with social, political or cultural issues that can be shared with the public whereas other sculptures are constructed in the way that actual participation of the people eventually complete the work. For example, Sui Gianguo, a Chinese artist who gained worldwide recognition for his socio-political works, intends to reveal the traces of the Cold War and authoritarianism that still prevail in the present Chinese society through the symbolic representation of Chinese military uniform. On the other hand, works such as “Sit with Me” by Pintor Sirait from Indonesia or “Continent II” by Jin Soo Kim from U.S.A. are constructed in a way that people can actually sit on or be involved in physical interaction with the works.
Participating Artists
Lee, Hwan-Guon (Korea) / Kim, Dong-Yeon (Korea) / Kim, Byung-Chel (Korea) / Kim, Chang-Gon (Korea) / Lee, Jong-Bin (Korea) / Kim, Jong-Gu (Korea) / Park, Eun-Seang (Korea) / Kang, Yi-Soo (Korea) / Pae, Jin-Ho (Korea) / Kim, Czong-Ho (Korea) / Berrios, Ramon (Puerto Rico) / Tufan, Kemal (Turkey) / Shuo, Liang (China) / Jian Guo, Sui (China) / Finotti, Novello (Italy) / Anatol, Heribert Brinkman (Germany) / Saito, Toru (Japan) / Kalle, Ton (Netherlands) / Sirait, Pintor (Indonesia) / Kim, Jin-Soo (USA)
Contemporary Art Exhibition
Aug. 21 – Oct. 31. 2004 / Busan Metropolitan Art Museum
The Contemporary Art Exhibition is composed of three sections: “Point of Contact,” “Hang in There, My Dear Geum-sun” and “Moving Picture Desire”.
Under the sub-theme N.E.T. the curators interpret the chasm as a sort of psychological trauma resulting from experiences recent history – war, colonialism, rapid industrialization, globalization, post-colonial experiences of hybridization or amnesia etc. Through the exhibition the curators engage the audience in discussions ranging from the role and form of film in contemporary society, and ideas of the history and reality of socio-political trauma to elucidations on the nomadic intersection and flow of people and ideas that is inherent to events such as the biennale.
Sea Art Festival
Oct. 9 – Oct. 31, 2004 / Haeundae Beach, etc. , Busan
Sea Art Festival will install 30 works, produced by international artists under the sub-theme ‘Crossing Over,’ around Haeundae Beach and other nearby public places. Taking advantage of peculiar natural surrounding of the city of Busan, especially the scenic Haeundae Beach, a popular tourist spot. The Sea Art Festival seeks to provide an open place where people can encounter artwork in a natural and relaxed setting. Furthermore this event intends to be an exemplar of environmental art where artworks are placed in an accessible setting.
