Busan Biennale
The Busan Biennale is a biannual international contemporary art show that integrated three different art events held in the city in 1998: the Busan Youth Biennale, the first biennale of Korea that was voluntarily organized by local artists in 1981; the Sea Art Festival, an environmental art festival launched in 1987 with the sea serving as a backdrop; and the Busan International Outdoor Sculpture Symposium that was first held in 1991. The biennale was previously called the Pusan International Contemporary Art Festival (PICAF) before it launched.
The biennale has its own unique attribute in that it was formed not out of any political logic or need but rather the pure force of local Busan artists’ will and their voluntary participation. Even to this day their interest in Busan's culture and its experimental nature has been the key foundation for shaping the biennale’s identity.
This biennale is the only one like it in the world that was established through an integration of three types of art events such as a Contemporary Art Exhibition, Sculpture Symposium, and Sea Art Festival. The Sculpture Symposium in particular was deemed to be a successful public art event, the results of which were installed throughout the city and dedicated to revitalizing cultural communication with citizens. The networks formed through the event have assumed a crucial role in introducing and expanding domestic art overseas and leading the development of local culture for globalized cultural communication. Founded 38 years ago, the biennale aims to popularize contemporary art and achieve art in everyday life by providing a platform for interchanging experimental contemporary art.
Marine Algae (Chung Ik Kyo)
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관리자 2022-12-19 10:26
Professor Emeritus, Department of Oceanography, Pusan National University
Marine algae are world champions in helping humanity and the Earth. Marine algae are plants that live in the sea. They come in different colors: sea lettuce (Palae) and green sea fingers (Cheonggak) are green algae, brownish sea mustard (Miyeok) and kelp (Dashima) are brown algae, and red algae such as laver (Gim) and agar (Umutgasari). There are many delicious and familiar seaweed-based dishes with the characteristic smells and flavors of the sea, and algae are also part of a healthy diet. They are a “superfood” rich in soluble fiber, amino acids, and various minerals and nutrients. The practice of mothers eating Miyeok in the period after birth - something whales are also said to do - is an intelligent part of Korea’s culinary culture.
Many marine organisms inhabit seaweed forests, offering significant benefits to the marine ecosystem and humankind. Like the forests on land, the vast amounts of photosynthesis in the sea absorb CO2, a greenhouse gas, and release oxygen - an essential natural phenomenon in resolving the global issue of climate change. Many countries worldwide are suggesting innovative solutions using marine algae to contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, achieving carbon neutrality, and adapting to climate change by the Paris Agreement on climate change. As carbon sinks sequester greenhouse gases, marine algae offer a sustainable, nature-based solution to climate change. As marine algae grow, they mitigate ocean acidification and cleanse the seawater by absorbing nutrients. They continue providing new advantages as a replacement for carbon in different products, including algae-based medicines, biofuels, fuel cells, and plastics.