The Village

The social systems we are living in are not adequate enough to deal with the newly emerged complex socio-political and economic conditions which are increasingly causing anxiety for both individuals and groups. The research on alternative social system has led us to question about more fundamental states of living, which can help obtain better possibilities for real changes; creativity and education. The individual autonomy today is greater than any other period in history. How do we oppose to the factors that impede this autonomy, and enjoy a life of self-governance and self-sufficiency?The Village is deeply rooted on these ultimate questions. As an individual living with others in society, how can we generate abilities to think and make decisions in his/her way, to see the broader structure than a narrow part, and to respect oneself and also others? Moreover, based on these abilities, how can we create life and also a better society for us and future generations? It is in alternative art education that we find the answers to these questions.

As a mediator and as a form of physical and mental experience, The Village is an art project that aims to enlighten aspects of creative learning and alternative education by bringing alternative thoughts and individual practices into real engagement. The Village is composed of summer camp, publication, and documentary. Before the opening of the biennale, a total of 80 visual art educators and artists participated in forming a temporary village-community where they learned together, ate together, and communicated with each other, occupying the Nam-Seoul Living Arts Museum during the month of August. With the opening of the biennale, The Village was transformed into an exhibition as a 'Recollection Archive' to extend, circulate and share the experience. Video recordings, workshop outcomes, and participant interviews of the summer camp curriculum 'Creative Learning' will be updated regularly, re-creating The Village into a library where visitors can spend time and later return. Interviews and activities from the summer camp will also be produced into a separate publication and documentary.