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.
Garden of Learning
Busan Biennale 2012 proposed a theme of 'Garden of Learning' and exhibited Sep. 22 to Nov. 24, 2012 at Busan Museum of Art, Busan Cultural Center, Busanjin Station, and Gwangalli Meworld. 'Garden of Learning' stems from a slow, largely improvised exhibition process involving around 80 people from Busan and wider korea, a comparatively small number of artists and the Artistic Director. Collaborating closely in a body called Learning Council, these people shared their doubts about the relevance of the Biennale-type exhibition, explored possibilities for reaching a wider community and learned about various artistic approaches to the realities that keep challenging us.
| Theme Garden of Learning | Period Sep. 22~Nov. 24, 2012(64 days) |
| Venue Busan Museum of Art, Busan Cultural Center, Busanjin Station, Gwangalli Meworld, etc. | Artistic Director Roger M. Buergel (Independent curator) |
| Artworks 404 Artworks of 114 artists from 22 countries | Surport Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Paradise Culture Foundation, The Japan Foundation, Mondrian Foundation, OCA, IFA, Institut Francais, bm:uk |
| Host Busan Metropolitan City, Busan Biennale Organizing Committee |
Exhibition
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