National institute to offer much-anticipated exhibitions, performances to mark 10th year

"I Wasn't There in Gwangju" (ACC)
"I Wasn't There in Gwangju" (ACC)

“I wasn’t there in Gwangju” on May 18, 1980.

This is a true statement for most people, whether they weren't yet born or have only heard secondhand about the Gwangju Democratic Uprising -- the pro-democracy movement that was brutally put down by the military -- through the novel "Human Acts" by Han Kang, last year's winner of the Nobel Prize in literature.

Aiming to bridge that temporal gap, an interactive performance titled “I Wasn’t There in Gwangju,” created by renowned theater director Ko Sun-woong, is set to run from May 15 to 18 at the National Asian Culture Center, commonly known as ACC, in Gwangju.

Taking place in the very cultural complex that embodies the spirit of Gwangju -- the old city hall now home to the ACC -- the performance offers audiences a chance to experience the 10 days of isolation Gwangju went through during the protests and deadly crackdown in 1980.

This performance is part of a lineup marking the 10th anniversary of the ACC, which opened its doors to the public on Nov. 25, 2015. Known for its focus on contemporary and multidisciplinary arts, the center is presenting 11 exhibitions, five performances, and a series of other events to commemorate the milestone.

Japanese visual and sound artist Ryoji Ikeda (ACC)
Japanese visual and sound artist Ryoji Ikeda (ACC)

Japanese visual and sound artist Ryoji Ikeda, Korean media artist Lee Lee-nam, Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko are some of the artists whose works will be shown this year.

The National Asian Culture Center commissioned a group of renowned artists -- director Yang Jeong-woong, musician Jang Young-gyu and Ambiguous Dance Company’s artistic director Kim Bo-ram -- to create media art based on "Heungbuga," one of the five surviving pansori, or traditional narrative singing. Titled “Swallow’s Journey,” it is the third work in ACC’s media pansori repertoire.

"Swallow's Journey" (ACC)
"Swallow's Journey" (ACC)

Fulfilling the center's mission to promote cultural exchange in the Asian region, three Asian theater directors will create synergy when they explore common themes such as shamanism, disappearing media, war and "liquidpolitan." A term in urban planning, liquidpolitan describes highly adaptable and fluid cities that embrace flexibility, mobility and interconnectedness to address modern urban challenges.

Three theater directors -- Oh Se-hyeok from Korea, Wen Szu-ni from Taiwan and Chakorn Chmai from Thailand -- will develop a trilogy titled “Remapping Asia” to be staged from Nov. 14 to 15. The production, co-created with Taiwan’s National Theater and Concert Hall will be also staged in Taipei in July 2026.

Lee Kang-hyun, who has led the ACC for the past three years, noted the institution’s growing recognition among cultural organizations worldwide and expressed his hope to attract more visitors from abroad.

Despite its location -- ACC is about two hours from Seoul via high-speed train -- more than 3.2 million people visited the center last year, contributing to a cumulative total of 19 million since its opening. Two of last year’s exhibitions -- "Dear Baba-Nonya: The Future into Cross Culture in Seaport Cities " and "Urbanscape: Connectivity and Coexistence" -- drew over 200,000 visitors each. Although specific data on foreign visitors is unavailable, Lee estimated they comprise 10-15 percent of all visitors.

“The National Asian Culture Center has grown into a leading cultural institution, pioneering new values in Asian arts, serving as a cultural hub, and becoming a regional landmark. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the ACC looks to the next decade with a bold vision, aiming to connect Asia and the world while enriching the future through diverse cultural experiences,” Lee told reporters during a press conference on Tuesday in Seoul.

Spanning a vast 139,217 square meters in Gwangju’s old city center -- a site etched in history by the 1980 pro-democracy uprising -- the ACC is backed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The complex features six multipurpose exhibition halls, two theaters and numerous other facilities, solidifying its position as a cultural hub.

The National Asian Culture Center (ACC)
The National Asian Culture Center (ACC)

gypark@heraldcorp.com