The Korea Herald

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Local public art project rethinks urban redevelopment and sustainability

By Shim Woo-hyun

Published : Nov. 4, 2019 - 17:17

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Sitting at the center of Pyeongchon Central Park in the city of Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, is Daan Roosegaarde’s giant outdoor purifier “Smog Free Tower.”

Daan Roosegaarde’s “Smog Free Tower” is installed at the center of Pyeongchon Central Park in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province. (APAP) Daan Roosegaarde’s “Smog Free Tower” is installed at the center of Pyeongchon Central Park in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province. (APAP)

Roosegaarde’s seven-meter tall outdoor air purifier is designed to filter about 30,000 cubic meters of air per hour using little electricity. The tower at the park will capture particulate matter and release clean air for the next two years.

The Dutch artist’s large-scale air purifier has been installed as part of the sixth Anyang Public Art Project, organized by the Anyang Foundation for Culture & Arts.

Having started in 2005, APAP is a local public art program that introduces artwork and programs that local citizens can participate in and enjoy.

Titled “Symbiotic City,” this year’s edition features some 100 artworks by 47 artists from seven different countries shown across the city, including the Anyang Art Park area, the main venue for the program.

“Symbiotic City” focuses on the topics of urban regeneration and sustainability, while concerning itself with how art can contribute to the process, according to Kim Yoon-sub, the artistic director.

Installation works are scattered throughout the city.

French photographer Georges Rousse’s “Anyang 2019,” a large red cube structure with the Korean word for “life” written on it, is shown near the stream next to the Anyang Museum.

An installation view of Georges Rousse’s installation “Anyang 2019” in the area around the Anyang Museum. (APAP) An installation view of Georges Rousse’s installation “Anyang 2019” in the area around the Anyang Museum. (APAP)
An installation view of Yoon Suk-nam’s “1025: With or Without Person” in front of the Anyang Museum. (APAP) An installation view of Yoon Suk-nam’s “1025: With or Without Person” in front of the Anyang Museum. (APAP)


Yoon Suk-nam’s “1025: With or Without Person” installed in front of the Anyang Museum is a set of dog-shaped sculptures that are created after the abandoned dogs taken into the care of Lee Ae-shin -- the operator of the country’s first private animal shelter. The work attempts to raise awareness of people’s growing indifference to living beings.

Singapore-based artist Lee Wen presents “Ping-Pong Go-Round,” a donut-shaped table tennis table on which several people can play at once. This project, first introduced at the Melbourne Museum in Australia in April 1998, is currently installed in front of Anyang Pavilion, in Anyang Art Park.

More artworks are shown in Anyang Pavilion and Anyang Art Park areas.

The APAP’s main exhibition “Better Than Tomorrow” at Anyang Pavilion, a library-turned-exhibition space, features works by seven contemporary artists in which they show their take on public art’s role in urban redevelopment. In addition, APAP has setup works by 21 artists from the city -- 11 sculptors, eight painters and two mixed media artists -- at 19 separate locations throughout the park area.

Meanwhile, APAP is also holding a total of nine events in which the members of the public can participate. The schedule and registration is available at www.ayac.or.kr.

Two international forums will convene during the event period. “Beyond APAP, Vision of Public Art,” will invite art experts from home and abroad to talk about the role of public art in urban renewal projects. The first forum was held on Oct. 26 and the second one will be on Dec. 6.

APAP runs through Dec. 15.

By Shim Woo-hyun (ws@heraldcorp.com)