July 16?24 at Horanggasi Tree Art Polygon
The Meaning of 5·18 as Told by Ordinary Young People
The city of Gwangju announced on July 16 that local youth will be holding a special exhibition exploring the contemporary significance of the 5·18 Democratization Movement.
The exhibition, titled "Disconnection, Connection, Reconnection," will run for nine days until July 24 at the Horanggasi Tree Art Polygon in Yangnim-dong, Nam-gu. It reinterprets the meaning of 5·18 from the perspective of ordinary young people.
This exhibition is part of a citizen participation project organized by the 5·18 People's Uprising Commemoration Committee, led by local photographer Choi Jinwoong and cultural planner Kim Kkotbi. The centerpiece of the exhibition visualizes the connection to 5·18 by depicting young people standing in front of the camera holding colorful yarn.
Notably, the exhibition goes beyond a simple listing of historical facts and instead examines 5·18 through the everyday perspectives of young people currently living in Gwangju. It explores the value of 5·18 as it relates to individual lives, moving beyond the noble history taught in textbooks.
On July 23, the program "Small but Noisy Public Forum" will provide an opportunity to hear young people's voices even more vividly. Cultural planner Kim Kkotbi will moderate the discussion, with photographer Choi Jinwoong and others participating as panelists to discuss the contemporary significance of 5·18.
The organizers aim to connect 5·18 to values that are important to today's youth, such as overcoming hatred, eliminating discrimination, and respecting diversity. They plan to continue expanding the discourse on May among Gwangju's youth in the future.
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