Suncheon City Unveils Public Art Project "Our Neighborhood Art: Kkumgil"

Project Promoted Under Consignment from Suncheon Cultural Foundation... Providing Jobs for Artists

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] Suncheon City (Mayor Heo Seok) completed last year's public art project and held an opening ceremony on the 23rd along the Dongcheon Stream near Orim Village in Dosadong, attended by about 100 people including Mayor Heo Seok, officials from the Suncheon Federation of Arts, and local artists.

Last year's public art project was a national project by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism implemented to provide jobs for local artists and offer cultural enjoyment opportunities to residents in order to overcome COVID-19. The Suncheon Cultural Foundation was commissioned by Suncheon City in the second half of last year to carry out the project.

In September last year, the Suncheon Cultural Foundation selected two artist groups to participate in this project through a public contest. A total of 43 local artists, including 24 members from Kim Seung-yeol's Contemporary Sculpture Research Institute and 19 members from Wi Su-hwan's Art Factory, along with about 400 citizens, participated in the creation.

This project installed 12 murals themed on Suncheon's ecology and dreams, 6 pieces including the Dream Tree sculpture and the Komjirak Maru citizen resting space, 20 archive materials depicting 100 years of Suncheon art history, 129 works by active and expatriate Suncheon artists, and one bronze relief of the Eight Horses symbolizing Suncheon's spirit of integrity.

Additionally, through a resident participation program conducted with civic groups and Orim Village residents, 470 mural and Komjirak Maru object creations and one Our Village map drawing work were also installed.

Mayor Heo Seok of Suncheon said, "I thank the artists and residents who participated in the artwork activities despite the harsh winter and difficult circumstances such as COVID-19. I hope this has been of some help to local artists whose activities have become even more challenging due to COVID-19, and I look forward to Dream Road becoming a new cultural space along Dongcheon and a healing space for many citizens."