Yeouido Station, Yeongdeungpo Market Station, and Yangpyeong Station Transformed into Contemporary Art Galleries... Exhibition of Over 30 Artworks
[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] The gray subway stations are being transformed into art galleries.
Yeongdeungpo-gu (District Mayor Chaehyunil) announced that, together with Seoul Metro, it is providing cultural and artistic enjoyment opportunities for residents and supporting the creative activities of local artists by converting the subway stations of Line 5 in Yeongdeungpo-gu into cultural galleries through the “Yeongdeungpo Art Bank.”
The “Yeongdeungpo Art Bank” was planned to create an environment where more local residents can freely encounter and enjoy artworks in their daily lives by displaying diverse contemporary art pieces using digital content and art billboards at relatively high foot traffic areas such as the front entrances and exits of subway stations, transfer platforms, and the basement level 1 lobbies.
Accordingly, in June, the district signed a “Business Agreement for Regional Culture Coexistence” with Seoul Metro to support the active artistic activities of local artists who faced difficulties due to COVID-19 and to revitalize the cultural and arts sector.
This exhibition, sponsored by SK Securities and Kiwoom Securities and organized by the Yeongdeungpo Cultural Foundation and Union Art Fair, has been on display at Yeouido Station, Yeongdeungpo Market Station, and Yangpyeong Station on Subway Line 5 since December 1 and will continue until May 30 of next year, spanning six months.
To introduce emerging artists and support their creative activities, about 30 artworks by local artists have been selected and exhibited, with plans to rotate the artworks every six months to showcase a variety of pieces.
The artworks are displayed at a total of 12 locations on station advertisement walls and media screens: four spots on basement level 1 and two spots on basement level 2 at Yeouido Station; one spot on basement level 1 at Yeongdeungpo Market Station; and two spots each on basement levels 1 and 2 and one spot on basement level 3 at Yangpyeong Station. The pieces feature vibrant colors and compositions, conveying a fresh feeling along with messages of hope for coexistence and overcoming challenges.
Additionally, considering the ongoing spread of COVID-19 and the difficulty of viewing cultural and artistic works in confined spaces, the district highlighted that the open-space exhibition allows subway users to safely enjoy the artworks, which is another advantage of this exhibition.
Yeongdeungpo-gu and Seoul Metro plan to continuously explore ways to revitalize local arts by transforming subway stations in Yeongdeungpo into cultural railway stations through increased communication and collaboration with more artists, starting with this exhibition.
Chaehyunil, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, expressed, “I sincerely thank the sponsors and organizers who have supported the promotion of local arts in Yeongdeungpo and the creation of stations alive with culture and art. We will do our best to make Yeongdeungpo an open cultural and artistic city where many people can experience culture and art more closely in their daily lives.”
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