Two art installations by a handful of Korean college students are on display at the main offices of the Olympic Council of Asia in Kuwait.

The students, who all major in design and belong to the design cooperatives Space Bar and Illumination, spent six months creating two pieces ― “10,000 Bolts and Nuts” and “The Spirit of 10,000 Hours” ― which were commissioned by the OCA, the organizer of the Asian Games. Following the students’ wishes, the pieces were donated to the OCA and the students received compensation only for the cost of materials used. 

“We wanted to do something meaningful,” said 21-year-old Lee Da-sol, a member of the Space Bar team. “None of us expected to make any profits from this project, which is why we refused the offer of payment and decided to donate the pieces.”

The 11 students involved visited Kuwait on Sept. 19 for the offices’ grand opening ceremony. The two pieces they created can be seen at the entryway and second floor hall of the OCA main offices.

On “10,000 Bolts and Nuts,” the students explained in a press release: “Bolts and nuts are small but essential parts of a strong structure. They signify the role of Incheon in the future of Asia. We also wanted to hope for peace and cooperation in the Asian region through the activity of tightening each bolt and nut.” 

“The Spirit of 10,000 Hours,” which features models of Asia’s various landmarks, condenses the expansive continent into one, comprehensive city.

Sheihk Ahmad al-Fahad, current president of the OCA, first contacted the students upon seeing the two installations displayed at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games. The students had originally created the pieces as a part of their activities in the Incheon Asian Games Youth Supporters group. They created a replica of “10,000 Bolts and Nuts” and made alterations to the original “The Spirit of 10,000 Hours” before shipping them to Kuwait to be displayed at the OCA headquarters.

The OCA is a governing body of sports in Asia that hosts, among others, the Asian Games and the Asian Winter Games. 


By Rumy Doo
(bigbird@heraldcorp.com)