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.
Railway (Jeon Sung-Hyun)
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관리자 2022-12-19 10:35
Professor, Department of History, Dong-a University
A defining symbol of “progress” and “civilization” in the modern era, the railway was, also unfortunately, a spearhead for the invasion of Korea by imperialist powers and a mechanism used for its colonial rule. To be sure, Koreans also took advantage of the railway for transportation and for waging campaigns for independence and nationalism. But it was through the modern convenience of the railway that Korea had to endure invasions and domination by imperial Japan—and the railway centering around Busan was a pivotal part of that.
As Korea’s first open port—a port that had been opened by the Japanese—Busan was a foothold and gateway for Japan’s aggressions against Korea and the Asian continent. Early on, Japan constructed the Gyeongbu (Seoul-Busan) Railway, which began in Busan and was used for invasions of Korea and mainland Asia. With the reorganization of Busan Port, it was linked to the marine route of the Busan-Shimonoseki cross-channel liners and the Gyeongui (Seoul-Sinuiju) Railway, completing a marine and overland transportation route for invasions and colonization of Korea and the mainland.
Meanwhile, the Japanese built a metropolitan tram system in the colonized city, with Busan Port at its center, along with a harbor railway connecting the port with the trunk network. Plans were also made for underwater rail service with Japan. Externally, the Donghae (East Sea) Railway was developed as an additional cross-country railway to join the previously built Gyeongbu Railway. The Gyeongjeon (Gyeongsang-Jeolla) Railway was built to connect with the Gyeongbu Railway. The railway lines that were built or scheduled for construction would form a fanlike pattern connecting with Busan (Port) and spreading out to the rest of the Korean Peninsula and Asia. The construction and expansion of railway service can be described as a manifestation of imperialist, colonialist, and localist desires made possible by the invasion and colonization of Korea and other parts of the Asian continent.