‘STEEL WAVE, Dream of Pohang’ … 2023 Pohang Steel Art Festival Opens

▲The 12-year history of the ‘Steel’ art festival, ‘Pohang Steel Art Festival’

'Pohang Steel Art Festival' Poster.

The Pohang Cultural Foundation will hold the nation’s only steel art festival, the ‘Pohang Steel Art Festival,’ from the 7th to the 21st at Yeongildae Beach and the former Suhyup Frozen Warehouse.

Now in its 12th edition, the ‘Pohang Steel Art Festival’ is the only pure art festival in Korea centered on ‘steel,’ which is Pohang’s representative growth engine, expressed through culture and the arts.

Since its inception in 2012, the ‘Pohang Steel Art Festival’ has attracted a total of 1.5 million visitors, promoting the unique cultural and artistic value of ‘steel art’ native to Pohang and enhancing the city’s image.

Additionally, the 191 steel art pieces installed throughout Pohang over the past 11 years have created a steel museum within the city, revitalizing the urban environment.

In particular, the work ‘Meeting 2017,’ collaboratively created by POSCO and Professor Lee Yong-duk of Seoul National University, serves as a landmark in the Cheolgilsup (Steel Road Forest) and faithfully represents the region.

▲‘Pohang Steel Art Festival’ preparing for a new leap toward the world

The Pohang Steel Art Festival, which has been held to popularize the unique domestic cultural and artistic genre of ‘steel art,’ is now preparing to evolve into a biennale on the occasion of its 12th edition, building on its past experiences and achievements.

As part of this preparation, an advisory committee composed of experts in art and exhibitions has been launched, and a biennale research project is underway. Through this, the festival aims to become an international-scale event utilizing ‘steel’ as an artistic medium.

Mayor Lee Kang-deok stated, “Until now, the festival has been an event to promote steel art throughout Pohang and make it familiar to visitors. Going forward, it must proceed with the direction of making ‘steel’ a global cultural and artistic product and establishing itself as a sustainable festival.” He added, “For internationalization, we must prepare the Steel Art Biennale with a clear vision alongside the region’s identity.”

▲2023 Steel Wave ? Pohang’s Dream

This year’s ‘Pohang Steel Art Festival’ will exhibit 26 works by renowned sculptors, 17 works by Pohang steel companies, and 5 citizen participation pieces. Notably, to enhance internationalization, three works by overseas artists will also be displayed, enriching the festival.

The 2023 ‘Pohang Steel Art Festival’ is themed ‘Steel Wave ? Pohang’s Dream,’ combining ‘steel’ with the large and powerful ‘waves’ of Yeongil Bay to express Pohang extending ‘together’ with artists, citizens, and companies toward the world.

Kim Seong-bok’s work ‘Even When the Wind Blows, We Must Go’ symbolizes the human figure who perseveres toward their goals despite hardships and exhaustion, representing the festival’s aspiration for a new leap forward.

Other works conveying messages of hope include Moon In-su’s ‘Red Ox,’ expressing bold willpower through the motif of an ox, and Jang Se-il’s ‘Fly High,’ which supports everyone’s earnest dreams.

The most distinctive feature of the ‘Pohang Steel Art Festival’ is the participation of Pohang’s steel companies through their artworks. Now, ‘steel’ transcends industry to melt into hope and art, sublimated into artistic creations.

In the 21st century of intense competition, visitors can see various corporate works such as Jeil Technos’ ‘Flight (飛上)-2023,’ which hopes to leap beyond the steel industry into the renewable energy sector, and Sinhwa Tech’s ‘Time (From Present to Future),’ dreaming of a new leap through innovation and development, reflecting Pohang’s continuous progress.

Kim Gap-su, director of the Pohang Museum of Art, said, “I hope visitors discover new dreams and hopes through the Pohang Steel Art Festival works, and I ask for much interest and encouragement so that it can grow into an international festival.” He added, “We look forward to the development and growth of popularity, artistry, and technology through building global networks and exchanges.”

▲‘Pohang Steel Art Festival’ with citizens

Pohang’s ‘steel art’ is intertwined with citizens’ daily lives. This year, participatory works ‘Steel Together 1 and 2,’ completed with the involvement of Pohang citizens, will be exhibited. The significance lies in artists and citizens completing the works together.

Through a prior story submission contest, Kwon Yong-ju’s ‘Steel Together 1 ? The Story the Wind Tells’ incorporates the stories of Pohang citizens into the artwork, and at the festival site, visitors can participate in completing ‘Steel Together 2 ? The Eternal Dream of the Whale’ by artists Yoon Min-hee and Bae Ji-hoon.

Kwon Yong-ju, who creates the citizen participation works, said, “The world’s only steel art genre festival is unfolding, and with participation from not only artists but also local companies and citizens, I hope the festival will expand beyond Korea to become a global event.”

Various programs to assist viewing are also offered. Visitors can freely choose from three courses: the ‘Docent Tour’ guided by Pohang citizens, the ‘Self Stamp Tour’ using activity sheets distributed on-site for independent appreciation, and the unique ‘Night Tour,’ which uses light costumes and ‘Light People’ (actors) to experience the art in a new way, all accessible via the ‘Steel Art App Tour.’

▲Making the festival even more vibrant

The ‘Pohang Steel Art Festival’ is not limited to exhibitions but also offers various hands-on experiences. On weekends and holidays, the ‘Steel Workshop’ experience program with professionals in steel-related jobs and crafts operates, along with the ‘Orchestra of Steel,’ an art education program using steel with local artists.

Indie performances by bands and professional DJ teams active in Pohang collaborate to present the ‘Joy Overflowing with Steel’ concert at the former Suhyup Frozen Warehouse.

Additionally, on the first-floor lobby of the former Suhyup Frozen Warehouse, a photo exhibition titled ‘Damda’?created from citizens’ stories made into steel frames by the citizen festival planning group?adds fun to the viewing experience.

A representative from the Pohang Cultural Foundation said, “This year’s Pohang Steel Art Festival dreams of a new voyage toward the world through various waves created by steel, the city, art, and citizens communicating together. We hope the wave of steel will become an opportunity for Pohang to leap beyond and onto the world stage.”

For more details, please visit the Pohang Cultural Foundation website or the Pohang Cultural Foundation Festival Operations Team Instagram. Festival inquiries can be directed to the Pohang Cultural Foundation.

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