By Korea.net Honorary Reporter Williams Kyei from Ghana
Photos = Williams Kyei

The Gangwon International Biennale, with its provocative theme of “The Dictionary of Evil,” is currently ongoing at the Gangneung Green City Experience Center through March 18. The art and culture festival kicked off on Feb. 3 with a performance from the Tacit Group at the Gangneung Green City Experience Center, heralding the "Cultural Olympics."

The Gangwon International Biennale has been recognized as the main cultural event of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, after prior recognition through its Peace Project 155 in August, its Portfolio Review in October and its Press Conference in November 2017.

There are 110 works by 58 individual artists and teams with a great variety of artworks, ranging from media and sculpture, through to installations, paintings and performances. It's all spread across Hall A and Hall B of the Gangneung Green City Experience Center.

The curators are both Koreans and international artists from 23 different countries. Each collection or individual work tries to tackle one element of social evil that contradicts with the Olympic spirit of harmony and coexistence, equality, humanism and peace.

The exhibit will also explore the experiences and memory of internal wounds, the positivity of questioning, humanism and human values, and the role and responsibility of the arts.

These reflections of the different faces of evil were highlighted during the opening ceremony of the Biennale.

“These artworks raise issues that plague mankind. It's a paradoxical way to highlight the spirit of the Olympics,” said Hong Kyung-Han, an art critic and the artistic director at the Biennale. “The role of the artist is to find the best strategy to solve these problems.”



In explaining the Dictionary of Evil theme, Han Sai Por, a Singaporean artist who represented all the exhibiting artists, said, “Evil is only part of human behavior. It cannot overturn the true values of humanity.” She hoped that their works would inspire a safe and peaceful world, as they seek to solve these problems.

The Biennale is part of over 100 cultural programs being run by the Korean government on the occasion of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Conceived in 2013, the Gangwon International Biennale embodies the national wish to host a successful Winter Games for the first time.

A host of renowned curators from around the world who are showcasing their works here remain on standby to take visitors through their journeys and to explore the Dictionary of Evil from different perspectives.

Syrian artist Tammam Azzam has been focusing on the tragedy of refugees from the Syrian Civil War. Akram Zaatari from Lebanon is famous for collecting and analyzing a wide range of data about political and cultural situations in the Middle East. Thomas Hirschhorn from Switzerland is renowned for being severely critical of political problems in modern society through his images of violent and miserable moments, reconstructing the violence and acts of evil through grotesque images. Walid Raad from Lebanon and the U.S. shows the misconception and oblivion of the history of the Lebanon Civil War, as well as the continuing tragedy and trauma.

These artists have presented outstanding works at major venues, such as the Venice Biennale, the Kassel Documenta and at many art museums and galleries around the world.



Exemplary Korean artists like Chang Jia, D Hwang, Han HyoSeok, Sim SeungWook, Choi Sun, Choi ChanSook, Black Jaguar, Lee Jinju, Safranski Mackerel, Kim Kira and Kim HyungKyu will also exhibit their works of art at the Gangwon International Biennale 2018. Most of the works are new pieces and are being introduced to the public for the first time.

In a congratulatory message, Choi Moon-soon, governor of Gangwon-do Province, said, “The Games are a great opportunity for the province and Korea to take a new leap forward.” He further emphasized how the Biennale would continue to be a valuable legacy of not only the Winter Games, but also a cultural and artistic treasure for the nation.

A closing ceremony will be held at the same venue on March 17 starting at 4 p.m. The PyeongChang 2018 Winter Paralympic Games will also close on March 18.

Admission to the Biennale and its side attractions remains free and it's open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. More information can be found here. You can also call or email at 82-33-243-0784~5 or biennale@gwbien.com.

wisdom117@korea.kr

* This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.