Korean Pavilion to show diverse aspects of Korean architecture with films shot by architects


Korean architecture will be showcased to a global audience by a team of eight Korean architects at the 13th Venice Biennale of Architecture during the second half of this year in Venice, Italy.

A new challenge for this year’s exhibition is to show snapshots of Korean architecture through films created by the team, not through more conventional life-size or scaled down models.

The Korean Pavilion at the biennale is to be decorated with traditional Korean mulberry paper, hanji, as well as wood installations and feature screens that will play eight short films that offer diverse views and the challenges of Korean architecture through the participating architects’ perspectives.

Under the official theme for this year’s biennale “Common Ground,” Korean architects invite visitors to walk with them to discover elements of Korean architecture and examine how diverse ideas are united into a single project.

“We would like to promote Korean architecture on a global stage and have visitors learn and see characteristics of Korean contemporary architecture,” said Korean pavilion commissioner Kim Byung-yoon at a press meeting on Wednesday, unveiling the plan for the pavilion for 2012 Venice Architecture Biennale.

“Why should an architecture exhibition consist of structures? Couldn’t there be a new way to make it more approachable to people ― with something like media? With this idea, I came up with the plan to depict Korean architecture in eight short films. I hope the audience will enjoy it,” Kim said.

The participating architects are: Kim Tae-man, Hahn Jong-ruhl, Lee Sang-leem, Park Seung-hong, O Young-wook, Kim Hyun-su, Park Jean-taek, and Yun Chang-ki, all selected through an open contest.

Korea and Japan are the only Asian nations that have country pavilions at the acclaimed architecture biennale, according to the state cultural agency Arts Council of Korea, which runs the Korean pavilion.

Each architect will introduce his major works and discuss architectural values and concepts as well as challenges in Korean architecture, thereby depicting the connection between building and surroundings, sustainability, memories in spaces, craftsmanship and the tangible side of architecture.

Han Jong-ruhl will show how some modern public buildings such as the old Seoul train station built in 1925 and Myeong-dong Theater have been transformed into cultural spaces today, enriching the lives of citizens.

O Young-wook will point out how major constructions and urban developments deprive the citizens of the right to walk freely and safely in a city by observing pedestrians, cars and motorcycles all jumbled up at a small crossroad.

This year’s selection of architects has been criticized for including professionals from major architecture firms, a departure from past practice. Kim rejected the criticism, saying that the selection process was open and transparent. He also explained that he wanted to show various aspects of Korean architecture by having architects from a wide range of practices.

“It will be a great opportunity for us to show Korean architecture in an open space to many people on the global stage. I also think it can be the start of exploring new markets,” said Kim.

2012 Venice Biennale International Architecture Exhibition runs from Aug. 29 to Nov. 25 at Castello Gardens and Arsenale in Venice, Italy.

By Lee Woo-young  (wylee@heraldcorp.com)