Spanish urban artist Dulk's expansive mural graces the facade of Aphae's Town Hall office on Aphae Island, one of 1,025 islets scattered across Sinan County, South Jeolla Province. He is one of the creatives invited to transform the locality into Korea's first street art-filled isle. The initiative is part of the county's ambitious art project to construct a cultural museum or landmark on every major island in the district. Newsis
Sinan County in South Jeolla Province, a distinctive southwestern district made up of 1,025 islets, is welcoming Korea's first street art-filled island.
The initiative is part of the county's ambitious 144 billion won ($104.1 million) art project to construct a cultural museum or landmark on every major island, thus transforming the district with its shrinking population of 38,000 into a vibrant tourist attraction.
The establishment of Graffiti Town on Aphae Island has kicked off with the participation of three prominent artists: Paris-based JonOne, Dulk from Spain and Vhils from Portugal. The project is jointly organized by Sinan County and Urban Break, the organizer of Asia's largest contemporary urban and street art fair of the same name.
Dulk, who has been capturing the beauty of animals and nature through his graffiti since childhood, was the first artist to add a creative twist to the island's seascape.
His expansive work graces the facade of the Aphae's Town Hall office, inspired by the animals native to the county's famous tidal flats — ghost crabs, black-faced spoonbills and little terns — as well as the endangered tigers of Korea.
American graffiti artist JonOne, left, speaks during a press conference held on Aphae Island in Sinan County, South Jeolla Province, Friday. He is set to draw his colorful tag across the walls of Palace Park, an apartment complex on the island. Newsis
The next creative in the lineup is JonOne, a recipient of France's premier award The Legion of Honor in 2015. This month, he is set to draw his tag using red, blue and white — hues associated with Korea's traditional color scheme, "obangsaek" — across the walls of Palace Park, an apartment complex that is rented for a mere 10,000 won per month to newlyweds.
Taking up the baton in September is Vhils, known for his unique practice of carving and drilling concrete walls to create relief-like art. He will produce portraits of the county's locals on the facade of a bank building.
The Graffiti Island initiative will continue until 2026, with additional artists, including domestic ones, being invited to join the initial three.
Meanwhile, other islands peppered across Sinan County are set for their own artistic transformations in the coming years, led by world-renowned sculptors, architects and installation artists.
These include "master of light" James Turrell on Nodae Island; Olafur Eliasson, who is behind immersive spatial installations featuring striking elemental materials on Docho Island; Antony Gormley, creator of life-sized human body sculptures on Bigeum Island and Japanese postwar artist Yukinori Yanagi on Anjwa Island.