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.
Contemporary Art Exhibition
Artistic Director
Airyung Kim
Present, Independent curator based in France
Education
- M.A. & D.E.A. of Aesthetic, the University of ParisⅠ and Studied art history & theories at the Ecole des Hautes
- Etudes des Sciences Sociales
Career
- 1999. The Co-Commissioner of The Korean Embassy at Paris
- 1999. The Commissioner of The Culture Event for Korean Year at the International Geography Festival at Saint-Die-des-Vosges
- 1996. The Commissioner of <1 Site 7 Space : Korean-French Young Artists>. France
Vice Director
Man-Yong Song
Education
- M.A.& D.E.A, Dept of Aesthetic, Hong-Ik University
- B.A., Dept of Western Painting, Busan University
Career
- 2003. Excellence Prize the competition of Research, Busan Fine Art Association
- 2002. Vice Director of Contemporary Art Exhibition for Busan Biennale 2002
- 2001. Special Prize of the Competition of Research, Busan Fine Art Association
Commissioners
Catherine Francblin
France
Education
- Educated at Universite de Paris Ⅶ, Maitrese de Lettres modernes
Career
- 1999-2000. Seminaire a l'Ecole national Superieure des Beaus-Arts de Paris
- 1992-1998. Musee d'art moderne de la Ville de Paris, Responsable du service Educatif et culturel
- 1975-1991. Magazine, Mensuel d'art contemporain, Assistante de redaction puis redactrice en chef
Kim Levin
U.S.A.
Education
- Educated at Vassar College, Columbia University, and New York University's Institute of Fine Arts
Career
- 1988. Curator of "Contemporary American Art" Museum of Modern Art, Japan
- 1995. Advisor to the 1995 Kwangju Biennial, Korea
- 1997. Curator of "Borealis 8: The Scream" ARKEN Museum of Modern Art, Denmark
- 2000. Guest Curator of "John Salvest: Time on his Hands" Phoenix Art Museum, U.S.A
Akira Tatehata
Japan
Education
- Educated at The Faculty of Literature at Waseda University, Tokyo
Career
- 2001. Artistic Director 2001 Yokohama Triennale
- 1990-1993. The Japanese Commissioner for The 44th and 45th Venice Biennale
- 1989. Curator of ‘Drawing as Itself’ (The National Museum of Art, Osaka)
- 1985. Curator of ‘Action and Emotion : Painting of The 1950's’ (The National Museum of Art, Osaka)
- 1976-1991. Curator of The National Museum of Art, Osaka
Sea Art Festival
Artistic Director
Kwang-Woo Kim
Prof. of Sculpture Dept. at Dong-A univ. Busan,
Korea
Education
- B.A and M.A in Sculpture Dept. at Hong-Ik univ. Seoul, Korea
Career
- 2002. Artistic director of Sea Art Festival in Busan Biennale 2002
- 2002. Dean of Art college at Dong-A univ.
- 2000. President of Sea Art Festival in Busan International Art Festival
- 1996. Jury of International Environmental Festival
- 1995. Vice president of Bu-Il Art Festival, Jury of Busan Art Festival
- 1990. President of Busan Sea Art Festival
- 1999. Chief of juries of Busan Art Festival
- 1983. Trustee of sculpture dept. in Korean Art Association
Vice Director
Jong-Gu Kim
Career
- 2004. Invited Artist for Busan Sculpture Project in Busan Biennale 2004
- 2003. Busan International Sculpture Exhibition(Bisan Metropolitan City Hall, Korea)
- 2002. Asian Contemporary Sculpture Exhibition(Busan Cultural Center, Korea)
- 2002. Asian Spirit Exhibition(Busan Cultural Center, Korea)
- 2002. Internaitonal Art Exhibition of Busan Asian Game-2002
- 2000. Asian Contemporary Sculpture Exhibition(Fukuoka, Japan)
Commissioner
In-Mo Yeon
Education
- Educated at University of California (Painting/Sculpture)
Career
- 2001. L.A. International Invitational Biennale
- 2001. Director of Guest Curator Show
- 1999-2001. Curator of Architectural Shows
- 1999. Curator of Western Art Exhibition
Busan Sculpture Project
Artistic Driector
Keun-Bae Song
Education
- B.A and M.A. Sculpture Dept. in Seoul National University
Career
- 2000. Invited Artist of Grosse Kunst Ausstellung N.R.W in Dusseldorf, Germany
- 1997. Invited Artist of International Symposium of Sculpture & Ceramicists for '97 Muju Winter Universiad
- 1993. Member of Managing Committee, The Sea Art Festival
Vice Director
Sung-rae Kim
PRESENT Adjunct Professor of Kook-Min University, Dept.
of Art Museum and Museum, Director of Mok-Am Museum
Education
- B.F.A. Sculpture Dept., Hong-Ik University
- M.F.A. Sculpture Dept., Hong-Ik University
Career
- 19 Solo exhibitions in Seoul, Daegu, Busan, Paris, Fukuoka, Nagoya
- 2005. World Museum Culture Expo(Kintex, Ilsan)
- 2004. Boryeong International Sculpture Symposium(Mosan Museum of Art)
- The 1, 2nd Korea Japan Contemporary Art Exhibition(Mok-Am Museum of Art
- 2002-2005. Adjunct Professor of Dong-Eui University.
Commissioner
Heinz-Hermann Jurczek
Germany
Education
- Educated at Kunsterziehung an der Universitat Essen
Career
- 1994. Wir hier, Westdeutscher Kunstlerbund, Kunsthalle, Reckinghaesen
- 1993. Darmstadter Sezession, Mathildenhohe, Darmstadt
- 1990. Knotenpunkt, 32 Kunstler aus Dusseldorf und Chemnitz
- 1983. 41 Kunstler aus der BRD, Moskau