culture
Ocean Pollution, Citizen Participation-Type Public Art
An old abandoned building is reborn as an art space, and works of artists are painted on the walls of the village where there were few people. Old buildings or village murals that have become healing spaces have been established as one of the common features of downtown or rural villages. It is the result of the city’s attention to public art projects for a ‘better life’. In a city that has passed through development and has entered the regeneration stage, public art has long been a means of creating a sustainable society. Public art in the form of installing and exhibiting works of art in public places by investing public funds began to appear in Korea in the late 2000s. As public art is applied to urban regeneration projects conducted at the national level, the form and quality are gradually evolving, but in the broad framework of ‘urban regeneration’, it has not been able to escape for over 20 years. Amid growing concerns and interest in the environment, such as COVID-19 and abnormal climates due to global warming, public art works with environmental topics will be shown for the first time in the region. In addition to the fact that it reflects the current situation of ‘environmental protection’, away from public art works that have focused on urban regeneration, the local government of Jeollanam-do is attracting attention in that it presented a sustainable and creative method of ‘saving the sea’. . According to Jeollanam-do and Goheung-gun, ‘Along with the Sea’ by Kim Sang-yeon will be installed at Namyeol Beach in Yeongnam-myeon, Goheung-gun, at 3 pm on the 25th. The whale-shaped work ‘Along with the Sea’ was made by recycling nets and steel frames commonly found in the sea. With a huge size of 10m wide, 3.5m high, and 2.8m wide, tourists who visit Namyeol Beach can complete a three-dimensional whale by inserting trash scattered in the sea or sandy beach into the whale artwork while swimming or taking a walk. The whale sculpture can collect at least 1 ton of scrap. The whale sculpture installed at Namyeol Beach is an experiential exhibition hosted and organized by Jeollanam-do and Goheung-gun. The Jeonnam Ilbo, which runs a year-round sea conservation campaign, participated in this event as an exhibition planning and publicity role. The Jeonnam Ilbo, which has been paying attention to the protection of the marine environment by conducting the ‘Sea Saving Campaign’ every year for the past 20 years, has practiced the love of the sea in the form of coastal garbage collection activities, fish release, and sea love painting and writing contests. Artist Sang-yeon Kim, who participated in the production of the work, is recognized for her artistry by presenting works of various genres, including paintings, installations, and hand-printed prints, both at home and abroad. Kim’s works are in the collections of the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Gwangju Museum of Art, Sen-Marie Team Council of France, Hyundai Motor Company, Gwangju City Hall, Kumho Foundation, Shinsegae Department Store, China Art University, and Shanghai Museum of Art, China. Kim’s ‘Along with the Sea’ produced this time will be permanently installed at Namyeol Beach, and other local governments are also discussing the installation of Kim’s public art works. Kim Hong-tak, general content director of the Jeonnam Ilbo, who planned the exhibition, said, “Without the brave and wise decision of the local government, this work would not have been possible.” We hope that it will be an exemplary case that can open up the Meanwhile, the ’26th Ocean Day’ event, which will be held at Namyeol Beach in Yeongnam-myeon, Goheung-gun, at 3 pm on the 25th, will be attended by Jeollanam-do Governor Kim Young-rok, Goheung County Governor Song Gwi-geun, and related organizations and groups, and fishermen. The event consists of a pre-ceremonial performance, reading of the charter of the sea, a coastal accident prevention campaign, and coastal cleanup activities. Kim Sang-yeon’s work ‘Along with the Sea’ is scheduled to be unveiled at the Sea Saving Performance.
