Naju-si Hosts Open Studio Event for International Residence Project

Naju City, Jeollanam-do (Mayor Yoon Byung-tae) announced on the 24th that on the 22nd, an open studio event was held at the old Craft Communication Creative Center in Jukrim-dong with six domestic and international artists participating in the international residence project.

The event was attended by Mayor Yoon Byung-tae, former Damyang County Governor Choi Hyung-sik, Lee Sang-man, Chairperson of the City Council, provincial and city council members, six artists participating in the residence, cultural and artistic organization officials, and about 250 citizens.

Naju City held an open studio event at the former Craft Communication Creative Studio on the 22nd.
[Photo by Naju City]

The international residence project has been planned by the “Cultural Arts Specialized Project Group” (Director Jang Hyun-woo), newly established as a dedicated department for the 8th term of the local government, aiming to realize the policy of “Prosperous Cultural Tourism.”

This project focuses on strengthening cultural and artistic activities rather than simple hardware tourism, responding to the era of cultural consumption as a measure to revitalize the tourism industry and the old downtown area, which had not achieved results despite numerous tourism infrastructures.

The project group invites artists from their 20s to 60s in various fields from around the world, including Korea, and partially supports living and accommodation expenses, as well as work activity costs, so they can engage in international residence activities in Naju.

Six domestic and international artists from various art genres such as painting, installation media and sculpture, comic animation, and photographic media participated in this first open studio event of the project.

The participating artists are Jung Young-chang (painting) and Anche (photographic media) from D?sseldorf, Germany; Czesler (installation sculpture) and Adriana (painting) from Gdansk, Poland; Ma Jong-il (installation media) from New York, USA; and Hai Thu from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

A total of 76 works (21 paintings, 24 photographic media, 18 installation sculptures, 7 comic animations, 6 installation media) can be viewed at the old Craft Communication Creative Center.

Adriana, an artist from Poland, said, “Art is a language beyond borders, so we are here together now in Naju,” and added, “We are very pleased to have the first opportunity to create new works by interacting with artists from other countries at the Naju City International Residence.”

She continued, “What was especially good was the warm hearts of the citizens of Naju and their positive attitude toward artistic activities,” and said, “During our stay here, we learned about Naju’s culture and history, and we have now become friends with the citizens of Naju.”

During their stay, the six artists plan to participate directly or indirectly in local representative festivals, cultural and artistic programs, as well as work and exhibition activities.

In particular, murals and installation works will be left as achievements and will be donated or permanently installed through consultation with Naju City.

The city is further promoting practical international exchanges mediated by culture through one-on-one reciprocal exchanges with cities of overseas artists.

Mayor Yoon Byung-tae said, “I hope the international residence will become a creative space that nurtures the artistic imagination of world-renowned artists and the starting point of a cultural industry city.”

He added, “Furthermore, through realizing the prosperous cultural tourism policy of the 8th term, we will actively support communication with local residents through culture and contribute to the development of the old downtown and the revitalization of tourism.”

Naju = Lee Han-hyuk, Honam Reporting Headquarters, Asia Economy baekok@asiae.co.kr

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.