2024 4th Jeju Biennale

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2024 4th Jeju Biennale

The Drift Of Apagi: The Way of Water, Wind, and Stars

Duration
November 26, 2026 - February 16, 2025 (83 days)
Venues
Jeju Museum of Art, Public Storage for Artworks, Jeju Museum of Contemporary Art, Folklore and Natural History Museum of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, International Convention Center Jeju, Jeju Arts Platform
Participating Artists
40 artists/teams from 14 countries
Artistic Director
LEE Jong Hoo
Organizer
Jeju Special Self-Governing Province
Host
Jeju Museum of Art
“The Drift of Apagi : The way of water, wind, and stars” Jeju Island is a place imbued with a history of drift. This exhibition explores how various elements that have shaped Jeju nature, religion, culture, and politics intertwine within the international context, balancing on the edge of chance and necessity to form its unique identity and commonalities. We examine the impact of natural phenomena like the Kuroshio Current and Jeju's constellations on human life and how the concept of 'drift' interacts with our perception. Historical records tell us that a Japanese envoy, during an exchange with the Tang Dynasty, accidentally drifted to Jeju (then known as Tamna Kingdom), leading to Prince Apagi(阿波伎) of Tamna visiting Japan. Just as these numerous drifts along ocean currents have shaped our civilization, the Jeju Biennale aims to create another vast ocean where encounters, collisions, and fusions take place. The Jeju Biennale, through diverse artworks and programs, addresses these themes, offering visitors a new perspective on Jeju's history and culture. This exhibition reinterprets Jeju's multifaceted stories formed at the intersection of chance and necessity from an artistic standpoint, providing new insights and inspiration.
iconUnhanmoe
Inspired by "Hallasan," meaning a mountain so high that it can pull the Milky Way, this newly coined term marks the beginning of Apagi's voyage.
iconNewdi
Derived from a term meaning "a place to row," Newdi represents the first chapter where Apagi rows out into the vast sea.
iconSabadang
A term from old Korean meaning "bird" (sa) and "sea" (badang), referring to an isolated island. In the second chapter, Apagi encounters a storm during his voyage, leading him to drift ashore on a remote island, where he meets birds and nomadic people.
iconCanpart
A compound word derived from “Canopus," an ancient term for the star, and “Quelpart," a past Western name for Jeju Island. The star served as a guide for sailors and was believed to govern human lifespan. This chapter depicts Apagi's inner maturation as he continues his voyage.
iconNuuiwak
A combination of "neoul" (wave) and "iwak" (story), signifying an idealistic tale brought across the waves. This fourth chapter represents the utopian paradise that Apagi encounters during his drift.
iconJageunte
A Jeju dialect word for storyteller, symbolizing the epilogue. It refers to the story of Apagi, who had never drifted before, showing that the voyage and drifting of Apagi are a metaphor for our own lives.
iconPre-Program

Workshop I Community Mapping

The first workshop for the 2024 4th Jeju Biennale D-100 was conducted with Dr. Wansoo Im, a participating artist of the Jeju Biennale. The activity involved walking along the beach while collecting litter. Participants used a smartphone app to record the location information of the trash and gather community mapping data. The collected data was visualized on a map to create a community map, and a video documenting the process was showcased at the exhibition. This project aimed to bring together Dr. Im, environmental organizations in Jeju, local citizens, students, and artists to raise collective awareness of environmental issues.
Location
Seogwipo-si, Daejeong-eup, Sangmo-ri, Hwan-tae-pyeong Peace, Small Park Beach
Content
2024 4th Jeju Biennale D-100 Workshop I <Community Mapping with Dr. Wansoo Im: The Water We Shared>
Date
August 17, 2024, 9:00
Artist
Wansoo Im
Participants
[Artist] Kim Soonim, Jang Young
[Organizations] Dipda Jeju (CEO: Byun Subin)
[Individual Participants] Kang Yeonju, Kim Yoobin, Kim Juyoung, Kim Chaeyeon, Shin Mincheol, Shin Wonsik, Lee Soojin, Jeong Yunji, Ji Minjun

Workshop II Special Lecture on Community Mapping

In the second workshop for the 2024 4th Jeju Biennale D-100, Dr. Wansoo Im introduced community mapping and facilitated a discussion on the marine ecosystem and marine debris issues under the theme of "Drift." Participants learned about community mapping, recognized the issues of marine litter and algal blooms in Jeju's coastal areas, and encouraged community participation. The session aimed to enhance participants' understanding of environmental issues and explore solutions through community contributions.
Location
Jeju Museum of Art Auditorium
Content
2024 4th Jeju Biennale D-100 Workshop II <Community Mapping with Dr. Wansoo Im: The Water We Shared>
Date
August 18, 2024, 14:00
Speaker
Wansoo Im

Artist Talk

Michał Sita and Anna Pilawska-Sita, participating artists in the 2024 4th Jeju Biennale, conducted a special lecture for students of the Department of Fine Arts at Jeju National University on the topic of "Critical Heritage Studies / Heritage Reworking within Art Projects." Michał Sita and Anna Pilawska-Sita visited Jeju for local research in preparation for creating their artwork for the 2024 4th Jeju Biennale.
Location
Department of Fine Arts, Jeju National University
Date
Thursday, October 17, 2024, 13:30
Artists
Michał Sita + Anna Pilawska-Sita

Research Trip I

The overseas participating artists of the 2024 4th Jeju Biennale visited Jeju Island during the pre-event period to conduct research and create new works for the Biennale. Michał Sita and Anna Pilawska-Sita, participating artists in the 2024 4th Jeju Biennale, explored the remaining Japanese military bunker caves and Oreum in Jeju Island from October 14 to 27, spending a total of 14 days. They also conducted research on military facilities formed during the Japanese colonial period.
Location
Military bunker caves and Oreum in Jeju Island
Content
2024 4th Jeju Biennale Participating Artist Pre-event Research Trip I
Date
October 14, 2024 – October 27, 2024
Artists
Michał Sita + Anna Pilawska-Sita

Research Trip II

Participating artists James Seet and Pangrok Sulap visited the haenyeo (female divers) working at Namtae coast in Namwon-eup, Seogwipo. The artists observed the haenyeo preparing to dive and had conversations with them to learn about the lives of Jeju's haenyeo, who have contributed to their family's livelihood and the local economy.
Location
Haenyeo Changing Room at Namtae haean-ro, Namwon-eup, Seogwipo, Jeju Haenyeo Museum
Content
2024 4th Jeju Biennale Participating Artist Pre-event Research Trip II
Date
November 13, 2024
Artists
James Seet + Pangrok Sulap
iconProgram

Artwork-Linked Workshop

Participating artist Agus Nur Amal stayed on Jeju Island during the preparation period for the 2024 4th Jeju Biennale to explore the commonalities between Jeju and Indonesian traditional beliefs, specifically focusing on the significance of sea rituals. He conducted a pre-workshop where students from Geumak Elementary School participated in the creation of an object theater, which incorporated Jeju's traditional rituals such as Yeongdeung Gut and the Umulgosa (well-divination ritual). Over November 19 and 20, the students took part in storytelling and object-making workshops, and on November 22, the completed object theater was presented. The resulting work and process were showcased as part of the 2024 4th Jeju Biennale.
Location
Geumak Elementary School
Content
Artwork-Linked Workshop: Agus Nur Amal Object Theater
Date
November 19, 2024 – November 22, 2024
Participants
2nd and 4th Grade Students of Geumak Elementary School

Exhibition Tour

An exhibition tour to introduce the 4th Jeju Biennale to participating artists, international curators, and journalists attending the opening ceremony of the 2024 4th Jeju Biennale.
Location
2024 4th Jeju Biennale exhibition venues : Jeju Museum of Art, Public Storage for Artworks Jeju Museum of Contemporary Art, Jeju Art Platform, Folklore & Natural History Museum of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, International Convention Center Jeju
Content
Opening Tour
Date
November 26, 2024, 11:00
Participants
2024 4th Jeju Biennale artists, out-of-town journalists, and art professionals from both Korea and abroad

Press Tour

A special exhibition tour was held for the Cultural Affairs reporters in Jeju, where the participating artists provided direct explanations of their works to offer a deeper understanding and insight into the 2024 4th Jeju Biennale.
Location
2024 4th Jeju Biennale exhibition venues : Jeju Museum of Art, Public Storage for Artworks Jeju Museum of Contemporary Art
Date
January 3, 2025
Participants
Shen Chaoliang, Hyeon Deoksik, Artificial Nature, Cultural Affairs reporters from Jeju

Conference

The 2024 4th Jeju Biennale, centered around the theme of "Drift", aims to foster a new empathy for nature and art through cultural and social anthro- pological reflections. Jeju itself is an island with a history of drifting, through which the intersection and convergence of different civilizations have shaped its unique ecological environment and identity. The Jeju Biennale will invite experts related to the theme for a conference, offering an opportunity to deeply explore the meaning of "drift" in the cultural, social, and historical context of Jeju, providing a deeper understanding of the Biennale's theme.
Location
Modadeuleong Hall, Folklore & Natural History Museum of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province
Content
2024 4th Jeju Biennale Conference 〈Jeju, the Drifting Island: Mobility, Intersection, and Convergence〉
Date
Saturday, January 18, 2025, 13:00
Keynote speaker
Kang Jeauk(Curatorial Director of the 2024 4th Jeju Biennale)
Speakers
Nurul Munirah Rohaizan, Angelo Gian De Mesa, Nobuo Takamori, Geel Gaeun, Hyun Seunghwan, Kim Younjoo, Kim Jaeyin, Kim Wanbyung
Roundtable Presider
Roh Hyungsuk
Designated Questioners
Kim Nayoung, Kim Jihye, Kang Chison, Yang Kura, Han Jino
iconNetwork Program

Connect Jeju: Moonlit Jeju

This program was a platform for the participating artists of the 2024 4th Jeju Biennale to engage with the local art community by visiting artist studios, residencies, and alternative spaces in Jeju. The program was designed to help establish an international network for the local art scene. Additionally, the participating artists visited the Department of Fine Arts at Jeju National University, where they viewed the works of current students and alumni, offering portfolio reviews and sharing advice and stories. Through the Jeju Biennale, the program fostered the exchange of artistic ideas and experiences among domestic and international artists, local artists, and emerging young artists, with the hope of creating a wider artistic ecosystem that transcends both regional and generational boundaries.
Location
Artist residencies, alternative spaces, and artist studios in Jeju
Date
2024. 11. 27. ~ 11. 28.
Participants
2024 4th Jeju Biennale participating artists, local artists, students and graduates of Jeju National University
Program
[Wednesday, November 27, 2024]
2024 4th Jeju Biennale Exhibition Viewing(Jeju Arts Platform)
Residency Artist Tour and Exhibition Viewing(Art Space IAa)
Visit to Jeju-based Sculptor Kang Moonseok's Studio(Kang Moonseok Artist Studio)
Portfolio Review with Young Artists(Jeju National University)
Visit to a Local Alternative Space(Culture Space Yang)

[Thursday, November 28, 2024]
Visit to the 2024 4th Jeju Biennale Participating Artist 's Studio(Seo Sungbong Artist Studio)
2024 4th Jeju Biennale Exhibition Viewing(Public Storage for Artworks in JMOCA)
Residency Tour(Art Lab Sanyang)
Visit to Jeju Onggi Gallery(Damhwahun, Sum Art Museum)