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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.

2004

Chasm

The Busan Biennale 2004 had as its starting event Busan Sulpture Project at Eulsukdo Sculpture Park from August 21, and ending with Sea Art Festival at Haeundae Beach and nearby urban areas from October 9.
Under the theme of 'Chasm, 隙‘, the biennale attempted to realize cultural democracy, illuminating our experiences and traumas of the modern and contemporary history and the 'chasms' in our culture. For the realistic interpretation fo 'chasm' and its representation through exhibitions, the Busan Biennale 2004 set exhibition themes for each for the three events. The total of 146 artworks from 40 countries participated.

2004부산비엔날레의 주제, 기간, 장소, 관람인원, 참여작가, 주최에 관한 정보제공
Theme Chasm Period May. 22~Oct. 31, 2004 (163days)
Venue Busan Museum of Modern Art Haeundae Beach, Eulsukdo Sculpture park, etc. Artistic Director
  • Contemporary Art Exhibition Tae Man Choi (Prof. of Kookmin University)
  • Sea Art Festival , Busan Sculpture Project Kwang-Woo Kim (Prof. of Dong-A Univ)
Total amount of visitors 1,324,085(Foreign:41,162) Host Busan Metropolitan City, Busan Biennale Organizing Committee
Partronized Organization Ministry Culture & Tourism Republic of Korea, Government Information Agency, MOGAHA, MOFAT, Busan Metropolitan City Office of Education, Korea National Tourism Organization, The Korean Culture & Arts Foundation, The Federation of Art & Culture Organization, The Korean Fine Arts Association Exhibition
  • Contemporary Art Exhibition Aug. 21~Oct. 31, 2004, 92 works from 40 countries
  • Sea Art Festival Oct. 9~Oct. 31, 2004, 34 works from 11 countries
  • Busan Sculpture Project May. 22~Aug. 29, 2004, 20 works from 10 countries
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