| Gwangju's Asian Culture Complex, to open in September 2015, is larger than Seoul Arts Center. / Courtesy of the Ministry of Culture, Sports & Tourism |
Nation's largest arts complex intended to serve 1.5 million in southwestern city
By Kwon Mee-yoo
GWANGJU ― Since 2004, the Ministry of Culture, Sports & Tourism and Gwangju have been working together for the Asian Culture Complex (ACC), one of the largest cultural undertakings in the nation's history.
The facility spans 160,000 square meters ― larger than Seoul Arts Center (128,000 square meters) or the National Museum of Korea (137,000 square meters). Why is this taking place in the faraway town of Gwangju?
The city of 1.5 million is Korea's 6th largest city, but it has been a cultural underdog among some of the nation's major cities. Unlike fellow metropolitan cities such as Ulsan, Busan, Daegu and Daejeon, Gwangju does not have a landmark arts complex.
To undo years of Gwangju's cultural isolation, the Roh Moo-hyun administration launched the Asian Culture Complex (ACC) project in 2004. It was Roh's campaign pledge during the 2002 presidential election. The ACC was the cornerstone of the late former president's policy of transforming several mid-sized cities such as Gwangju, Gyeongju and Jeonju as "international cultural cities."
The ACC finally unveiled its ultramodern facilities to reporters last week. But the rest of the country still does not know of ACC.
"For the last 10 years, we have directed all our attention to building," said Kim Sung-il, assistant culture minister. "We admit we have not fully promoted the ACC nationally."
The Roh Moo-hyun administration launched the mega project 10 years ago to re-invent Gwangju as a cultural hub in Asia. The construction began in 2008 and is about to be completed by this fall. It will open in September 2015.
The key to its success relies on its contents.
Since the ACC is a national project, its priority is engaging the public. However, lack of contents may lead to a decreased number of visitors.
The ACC expects some 1.67 million visitors a year based on a research by the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute, but current lineup does not include popular performances or exhibitions. The complex plans to invite artistic talents such as Robert Wilson and Apichatpong Weerasethakull, who are unfamiliar to the general Korean public despite their global reputation.
Maintaining distinctiveness is another issue. Currently, the five agencies that form the complex are operated separately with individual directors and the general director position has been vacant for months.
Gwangju is famous for its biennale and design biennale, which attracts world class artists to the city every year. The ACC needs to either differentiate itself from the biennale or work with it, but has not discussed this with the biennale yet.
"The biennale is at the forefront of experimenting art internationally, while our Cultural Promotion Agency will focus on creating new contents, combining art, science and humanities," said an ACC official.
Momentum for rebirth?
Nestled some 25 meters underground, the sleek glass-and-steel complex has two main theaters, a digital library and archive, multi-functional studios and exhibition halls, a cultural exchange center and children's culture center. Though most are underground facilities, a large plaza in the center of the complex provides sufficient light to all areas.
"When we start holding events here in September for the Gwangju Biennale, it will become more recognizable," Kim said. "We expect the ACC to bring Gwangju a momentum for rebirth."
The complex is designed by Boston-based architect Woo Kyu-sung. Instead of creating a visible landmark such as the Eiffel Tower, Woo made use of the underground. Woo said it was to preserve the historic value of the former South Jeolla Provincial Office, where the May 18th Democratic Uprising was erupted in 1980.
The Asian Arts Theater has the Grand performance Hall and a smaller multi-functional auditorium. The hall is a 1,200-seat black box theater, which has flexible units. The variable space could attract experimental artists who want to think outside the traditional theater with a proscenium arch.
The Cultural Promotion Agency would be the driving force of creation. It has studios and exhibition spaces for artists from Asia and six exhibition halls covering a wide range of topics from the history of Asia as well to food and lifestyle.
The Asian Culture Information Agency is an archive and research institute for Asian culture, while the Agency of Culture for Children will nurture the creative leaders for the future through museum, playhouse, library, and creative studio.
The Cultural Exchange Agency will be housed in the preserved historical buildings to collect and display artifacts related to the May 18 Uprising in spirit of democracy, human rights and peace and promote cultural exchange among Asian countries.
| Reporters take a look around the Asian Culture Complex (ACC) during a press preview on July 11. |