P_A_U_S_E
4th Gwangju Biennale 2002
29 March-29 June 2002
Curator: Wan-kyung Sung (Korea), Hou Hanru (China), and Charles Esche (Scotland)
P_A_U_S_E, the theme of the 2002 Gwangju Biennale, was adopted from the Eastern concept of meditation to encourage mankind to withdraw from the rigors of contemporary society and prepare for a new leap forward. The exhibition invited the participation of non-profit and experimental art groups and movements from throughout the world to promote communication, and to propose a withdrawal from the narrative of modern art history, even from modern society itself, in an effort to build a new way forward.
Gwangju Biennale which started in September 1995 in the city of Gwangju in the South Jeolla province of South Korea, was Asia’s first contemporary art biennale. The purpose of Gwangju Biennale is globalization of art and it respect diversity rather than uniformity. More than 500 artists and performers from 60 countries, and a modest contingent of foreign curators and critics descended on this provincial capital, whose 1.3 million citizens had virtually no prior exposure to international contemporary art.
ruangrupa space reproduced in the Biennale and we curate our own presentation. Seven artist from ruangrupa are participating and show the installations works, books, and video works. In this event, The 2002 Unesco prize for Promotion of the arts has been awarded to ruangrupa in recognition of outstanding creative achievement in the field of visual arts.
Ruangrupa, views space not just as a locus for display, made of bricks and white walls, but also as an extension of the body something connecting to the body. For the current Biennale, the artists present their intentions through performance and screen projection. The first installation, initiated on the opening day, is a display of food left on a table accessible to the public. The remains will be displayed after participants and visitors have finished the food.
Text from gwangjubiennale.org