“EQUILIBRIUM” AT SEA ART FESTIVAL, BUSAN

* SEE A REVIEW OF “EQUILIBRIUM” AN ART INSTALLATION AT SEA ART FESTIVAL, BUSAN IN ART4D.ASIA

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” Equilibrium “

Size: 1.20 x 1.20 x 2.30 meters (17 pieces)

Material: Customized PVC Inflatable with the Pottery’s Glazing Screened, Filled with air

Artwork Statement

Songdo Beach, as the oldest public beach in South Korea, has gone through different stages of history from prosperous nature site, significant seaport, Japan occupation, Korean War until modernization.

In 1913, it was opened as a first public beach during Japan occupation. The place was allocated for leisure activity under Japanese rule. It gives the contrast feeling of suppress and freedom in the same time.

The idea of maintaining the Equilibrium helps the South Korean go through all difficult circumstances from the past to the present. In the past decades, the South Korean economy has grown significantly and was transformed into one of the major economy country. South Korean has experienced rise and fall situations.

“As if they fall, they will rise up again like a tumbler doll.”

The philosophy of Equilibrium (yin and yang) has been embedded in South Korea’s culture throughout the history.  The concept of yin and yang is all things in the universe that holds the two principles in

perfect balance.

In the proposal of Installation for Sea Art Festival, the Equilibrium concept was represented through the physical aspect of balance “the tumbler doll”.

The movement of the tumbler doll represent the dynamic balance and the joy of beach activity. In the same time, it reflects the story and historical layers of the place. The tumbler doll always bounces back to the

balance position whether it is shaking and tumbling by any forces.

The tumbler doll would be crafted in the form of Korean pottery with pottery’s glazing screened to represent another dimension of Equilibrium;  the co-exist of two principles in perfect balance.

The contrast of Pottery and Tumbler doll represents as

The Fragile / The Unbreakable

The Heritage / The Contemporary

The Past / The Present

Indoor / Outdoor

Suppress / Freedom

Heavy / Light

Static / Dynamic

At the first glance, the installation looks like a static monumental Korean pottery located on Songdo beach. Only when people walk closer and interact with it, they will be surprised by a dynamic and unbreakable

pottery. On the surface of selected potteries will reflect the contemporary city on the heritage pottery through the reflective mirror film finished.

The heritage pottery has developed along with Korean history and involved in every aspects of Korean culture, especially Busan, the main pottery production and trading seaport. One said “It is difficult to understand the Korean culture without understanding Korean Pottery.”

This installation also marks the history of migration in Busan through a group of potteries, standing on the

historical beach as to remember the story of people.