Gyeonggi Province Introduces New Upcycling Artwork and Christmas Events at Camp Greaves
Exhibition of Yeon Jin-young’s New Work "Folded Habitat" at Ammunition Depot Building 2
A Former Military Base Transformed
Gyeonggi Province announced on November 13 that it will host an upcycling art exhibition and Christmas season events at Camp Greaves, allowing visitors to enjoy a wider variety of content.
As part of the exhibition space renewal, artist Yeon Jin-young’s new work, "Folded Habitat," will be showcased at Ammunition Depot Building 2. This installation art piece transforms industrial remnants into art by dismantling and recombining military items once used by U.S. forces, such as barracks, tents, and survival blankets, reinterpreting the space marked by tension and survival as a "habitat of life and coexistence."
The piece is completed by covering a U.S. military barrack structure with numerous folded survival blankets. These blankets, designed to maintain body temperature in emergencies, feature wrinkles that represent gestures of fear and survival, yet also embody traces of the will to live. The light-reflecting, wrinkled silver surface appears cold and artificial, evoking memories of past fears and struggles for survival, but it also expresses the human longing for protection, warmth, and hope, welcoming visitors with these emotions.
Regenerated thread made from recycled plastic was used for the seams, while around the windows, sustainable Korean paper yarn was knitted into the structure. The repetitive patterns of folds, layers, and knitting symbolize the organic process of life formation, allowing visitors to experience messages of life and peace within the space.
Cafe Greaves, created by remodeling a former U.S. military maintenance garage, will host the winter season event "Christmas Party in the Garage." The space, featuring an industrial atmosphere, will be decorated with Christmas ornaments and photo zones, transforming it into a unique and vibrant home party venue. In this distinctive setting, visitors can enjoy both the ambiance of a maintenance shop and the romance of Christmas.
This year, Gyeonggi Province has been gradually renewing major exhibition spaces at Camp Greaves to strengthen its cultural and artistic infrastructure. In the first half of the year, the province expanded exhibition content at Gallery Greaves, Studio BEQ (the former non-commissioned officers’ quarters), and Ammunition Depot Building 1, offering new attractions to visitors.
In particular, Gallery Greaves introduced storytelling-style exhibitions and a "Camp Greaves Pass Experience" that allows visitors to participate directly. Within the year, a new Story Hall, focusing on the history of Camp Greaves, and Documentary Hall 3, which recreates the living spaces of an actual U.S. military base for an immersive experience of daily life at the time, are scheduled to open.
Park Mijeong, Director of DMZ Policy at Gyeonggi Province, stated, "With growing visitor interest following the expansion of self-guided tours, we have pursued the renewal of exhibition spaces to provide richer cultural and artistic content. We aim to develop this into a space where art and experience coexist, making it a leading tourist attraction where visitors can truly appreciate the history and value of the DMZ."
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