Nowon Dalbit Sanchaek Opens on the 20th... Illuminating Hope with 'Earth Seen from the Moon'

From October 20 to November 7, 6 PM to 10 PM, over 150 art pieces including lanterns and light sculptures will illuminate a 2 km section of Danghyeoncheon.

'Flower of Healing'

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Nowon-gu (District Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that the representative festival of Nowon, '2021 Nowon Moonlight Walk,' will be held from the opening on the 20th until the 7th of next month.

The festival aims to deliver messages of healing and hope to those exhausted by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and to provide opportunities to enjoy culture in daily life. Despite the COVID-19 situation last year, the Nowon Moonlight Walk was greatly loved, attracting 180,000 visitors, and this year it is expected to be even more upgraded.

This year's theme of the Nowon Moonlight Walk is 'Earth as Seen from the Moon.' In the post-COVID-19 era, it carries the meaning of reflecting together on 'me, you, and us' from a new perspective and ultimately on the 'preciousness of the Earth.'

The main exhibition section is a 2 km stretch along Danghyeoncheon from Junggye Station and Danghyeon 3-gyo Bridge to Sanggye Station and the Mathematics Culture Center. About 150 diverse art lanterns and new media works will captivate visitors from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. over 19 days.

Considering the COVID-19 situation, there will be no opening ceremony, large-scale performances, or food sales. To encourage dispersed viewing, the spacing between exhibits has been widened to 2 meters, wider than last year.

Additionally, eight quarantine posts will be installed at the entrances of Danghyeoncheon to conduct temperature checks, and dedicated staff will be deployed to ensure safe distancing is maintained.

□ 50 works including ‘Healing Flowers’ that change with the viewpoint, and about 150 diverse light and sculpture exhibitions

This year, works with enhanced visual effects that change depending on the viewpoint are expected to catch visitors' eyes.

The representative work 'Healing Flowers' symbolizes the isolated state of individuals in their own spaces due to social distancing with three flower petals. When viewed in a straight line, the petals installed at a distance form a fully bloomed single 'rose.'

'Perspective of Hope,' with 2,021 maple leaves filled with autumn colors hanging on two maple trees, transforms into a flying bird the moment the gaze shifts.

'Now and Tomorrow,' showing the isolated state during the COVID era through the figures of a man and woman turning their backs to each other, reveals the man and woman facing each other when viewed in the opposite mirror.

'Tree Family,' standing harmoniously at a certain distance, conveys that the start of a harmonious family is respect and consideration, and 'Three Lights, One Home,' which contains three different lights in one flame, carries the message of creating a world where differences are not discrimination but diversity.

Resident participation works are also presented. 'Moonlight Writing Contest' will offer a unique pleasure and emotion by combining beautiful writings and splendid lanterns that enhance the charm of the deepening autumn night.

In addition, a variety of lantern works such as 'Whale Family,' which makes people think about the preciousness of nature through a father, mother, and baby whale, 'Panda,' 'Cat and Jangdokdae (traditional Korean earthenware shelf),' 'Ox,' and 'Bride and Groom,' as well as splendid three-dimensional videos and spectacular landscape lighting installed along the walking path, provide abundant attractions.

□ Adding artistic depth... Special exhibition by five invited artists

A special exhibition that offers a glimpse into the unique worlds of the artists has also been prepared.

Artist In Song-ja’s 'Chaos, Balance' represents the pandemic era’s complex entanglement but achieving balance within it, shaped as a hexahedron. 'Blooming,' expressing the hope for new hope to blossom in the post-COVID era, and 'Redcide 2018,' which sings hope through intense red energy and the light breaking through it, are also showcased.

Artist Kim Hyun-jun installed 'City and Moon Floating on Water' on the surface of Danghyeoncheon using seven geometric stainless steel (super mirror) pieces. As the title suggests, visitors can enjoy the city sky and surroundings reflected in the flowing water during the day, and moonlight, starlight, and city night views at night.

Artist Kwon Min-woo’s 'Mathematics Emoticons' is a work commemorating the Nowon Mathematics Culture Center, which leads the popularization of mathematics. Using Arduino and LED lights, inequality signs, set symbols, multiplication signs, etc., are implemented as moving, amusing facial expressions.

Also notable are artist Choi Sung-gyun’s 'Sound of Water, Moon,' which embodies the twinkling of moonlight, and artist Oh Jong-seon’s 'Breath,' which reflects on the preciousness of life through a living, moving dinosaur egg.

□ VR Ontact exhibition, artwork commentary program, and resident experience programs

A VR Ontact exhibition is also available through the official YouTube channel of the Nowon Cultural Foundation, allowing visitors to enjoy the festival more delightfully.

For a deeper viewing experience, a commentary program (Moonlight Guides) composed of local residents will be conducted once a day for up to 10 people.

For application and more detailed information, please refer to the Nowon Cultural Foundation website.

District Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, “Prioritizing safe viewing, this will be a time to relieve COVID stress,” and added, “We hope everyone strolls along Danghyeoncheon, where late autumn flowers and lights harmonize, makes good memories with precious people beside them, and spends time pledging new hope.”