‘East Bridge’ forum examines curator’s roles

The Korea Foundation’s (KF) “East Bridge 2018” art forum featuring experts from Korea and China being held at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza, central Seoul, wraps up today.

East Bridge is an art exchange program between the KF and the Beijing 798 Art District that has taken place every year since 2014. This year’s forum revolves around the theme “The Curatorial Practice,” featuring 11 speakers from diverse fields of expertise discussing how a curator delivers and changes people’s artistic experience through their work.

“The idea of curating began in the western world, and it wasn’t until the 1990s that the role was first introduced to Korea,” said Jung Hyun, assistant professor of visual arts at Inha University and organizer of the event. “And during the last decade, people have started to discuss what the role of a curator really is and what they can do, as their role and methods change with time.”

Two sessions took place on Friday, the first one on “Curatorial Politics of Exhibitions” featuring speeches by Lee Young-chul, professor of art at Kaywon University of Arts & Design, independent curator Iris Long and curator Yan Xiaodong. The second session was on “Creation of New Knowledge,” and featured artist Ceder Zhou, Cho Seon-ryeong professor of art culture and image at Pusan National University and curator Yuan Fuca on the panel.

The final session will be held today from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., on the idea of “Self-Organization,” looking at the act of curating as a means to connect people not just through the exhibitions but also further touch on people’s relationships with each other in their daily lives. Today’s speakers will be Pai Hyung-min, professor at the department of architecture University of Seoul, curator Wang Yiquan and artist Jiang Jun.

“In these times, where technology and civilization change so quickly, curators have to change their methods of presenting art and the possibilities of art through diverse ways,” said Liu Chen from Beijing 798. “We hope that this provides a chance for us to get to know the art world in Korea as well.”

The East Bridge event alternates between Korea and China, so next year’s event will take place in Beijing. East Bridge originally took place as an independent program, but this year it took place in tandem with KF’s Public Diplomacy Week.

BY YOON SO-YEON [yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr]