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.

The Village, as a mediator and as a form of physical and psychological experience, enlightens some aspects of creative learning and alternative education by bringing alternative thoughts, individual practices into real engagement. It occupies Nam-Seoul Living Arts Museum, one of the biennale venues, and transform the space into an environment for mutual learning and everyday activities, and create a temporary village-community of visual art educators and artists.

Running for three weeks before the opening of the biennale exhibition, The Village summer camp gathers autonomous individuals to share creative learning which enables mutual respect towards oneself and others, and the imagination of better life and society. It carefully examines and experiments the idea of creativity and learning through diverse and spontaneous activities, dialogues, makings, movements and laboring. Participants will assume their roles within the village-community and act autonomously, to naturally generate and share the learning experience.

After the summer camp and in joint with the biennale exhibition opening, The Village is transformed as a part of the exhibition. The participants are encouraged to host and organize their own art education programs based on their experience and learning from the summer camp. The video documentation, interviews, and publications on the performative activities and programs are also presented.