Culture ministry opens Gangwon exhibition at Cheong Wa Dae Sarangchae

The culture ministry said Tuesday it will open a special exhibition on Gangwon Province at Cheong Wa Dae Sarangchae, the former presidential compound in Seoul, running from Nov. 11 to Dec. 31.

The show, titled "Islands, Fields and Mountains Rise Up," is the third in a series of provincial exhibitions that began with Jeju in September and North Jeolla Province in October. Under the theme "Gangwon, a Place of Healing," artists and curators based in the province reinterpret its culture and daily life from inside the region rather than through outside eyes. From Dec. 2, a combined exhibition will bring together the cultural resources of Jeju, North Jeolla and Gangwon in one space.

To mark the opening, the Gyechon Starlight Orchestra will perform at 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 14 on the second floor of the building. The orchestra is made up of pupils from Gyechon Elementary School in Pyeongchang County, which faced closure in 2009 and instead formed an ensemble open to every student; it has become a headline act at the Gyechon Classic Festival and is credited with helping revive the area through the arts.

A weekly "Culture Day" concert will be held at 12:10 p.m. every Wednesday for the run of the exhibition, featuring musicians recommended by regional cultural foundations and designated culture cities. Ulsan's Fanolin D opens the series on Nov. 11, followed by Gangwon's Music Factory on Nov. 18 and the BWC Dance Company of Busan on Nov. 25.

From Nov. 18, four actors will serve as exhibition guides in "Project K," a programme that combines storytelling with tasks for visitors. They are Han Song-hee and Bu Sae-yeon, both from Jeju, and Ahn Se-hee and Lee Ye-seul, who specialise in theatre for children. The ministry said the format is designed to let children, families and foreign visitors experience the exhibits in more dimensions.

"This exhibition, following Jeju and North Jeolla and now reaching Gangwon, will be a chance to feel how the distinct cultural resources of the regions form the foundation of Korean culture," a culture ministry policy official said, adding that visitors should experience the appeal and energy of local culture directly through the exhibition and performances.

Schedules and details on taking part are available on the Cheong Wa Dae Sarangchae website.