[KS] Kyongju World Culture Expo

Frank M. Tedesco tedesco at uriel.net
Wed Aug 12 09:01:29 EDT 1998


>               Kyongju to Host Inaugural World
>               Culture Expo                                
>               15:01
> 
>               By Choe Yong-shik
> 
>               Staff Reporter
> 
>               The cultures of the East and West gather for an unprecedented
>               cultural event, in Kyongju, the ``cultural capital'' of
>               Korea. Their collective mission is to find a common ground in
>               the diverse heritage of human civilization.
> 
>               Under its theme, ``New Millennium Smile,'' the '98 Kyongju
>               World Culture Expo will kick off in the ancient capital city
>               on Sept. 11 for a two month run until Nov. 10, bringing
>               together landmark representations of civilizations from
>               around the world.
> 
>               With 48 countries participating, the inaugural event will be
>               composed of the exhibition of world civilizations and several
>               satellite shows. The venue for the event has been constructed
>               on a massive plot of land covering some 150,000 pyong on the
>               historic Pomun Lake Resort Complex in Kyongju.
> 
>               The centerpiece of the cultural event is the exhibition
>               comprised of some 600 ancient relics and artifacts belonging
>               to the Four Great Civilizations of the world: Egypt,
>               Mesopotamia, Yellow River and Indus.
> 
>               The ancient art of the Incan and Mayan civilizations will
>               also be represented.
> 
>               On display will be some of the most-cherished treasures from
>               each region, though the majority of the exhibits are
>               replicas, said organizers of the event.
> 
>               ``The history of world civilization will be portrayed, under
>               the purported theme, as having been in harmony, not
>               collision,'' said Lee Eui-guen, chairman of the organizing
>               committee and governor of Kyongsang-pukto. ``It will offer an
>               opportunity to experience different cultures and to
>               understand their interrelation.''
> 
>               The EXPO, however, is not merely an exhibition of artifacts.
>               Also available on the program are fine arts displays,
>               performance, avant-garde plays, contemporary dance, musical
>               events, traditional costume fashion shows and an
>               international conference.
> 
>               At the International Customs and Manners Area, visitors will
>               be able to examine and sample a wide variety of traditional
>               houses, craftworks, foods and other aspects of various
>               lifestyles from around the world.
> 
>               Asian, African, American and European pavilions will be built
>               on the Square, and representatives from all over the world
>               will perform their traditional dances.
> 
>               Musical and contemporary fine art programs will lend more
>               diversity to the cultural event. A joint performance of
>               Western and Korean musicians and other events symbolizing the
>               convergence of different cultures will be staged. Also the
>               video installation work, ``108 Worldly Desires,'' by Korea's
>               foremost video artist Paik Nam-june, will be screened
>               throughout the EXPO.
> 
>               Various other events and programs will enable visitors to
>               experience the diverse cultural traditions of the world.
> 
>               ``Visitors are a important part of the EXPO. Don't just race
>               through and then go home,'' said the chief organizer.
>               ``Visitors can actually participate in programs conceived to
>               make the EXPO richer and more meaningful.''
> 
>               Such programs include, Paint a Mural, Build an EXPO Monument,
>               the Scrawl Festival and the Korean Flowers Festival. In the
>               Paint a Mural program each of the participants must draw a
>               picture 1m by 1m on a wall 10m by 6m. The sum of the pictures
>               will then comprise the final work.
> 
>               From Nov. 5 - 7, distinguished scholars and researchers from
>               various countries will discuss the possibilities for culture
>               in the 21st century and suggest a vision for the future in
>               the Kyongju Culture Declaration.
> 
>               Placed on the agenda are such themes as Local and Global
>               Culture in Kyongju, Cultural Transmission and Environmental
>               Preservation, Cultural Encounter and Harmonization, and
>               Information Society and Cultural Responses.
> 
>               The participants in the high-profile conference are to
>               include Stanley J. Tambiah, Professor of Anthropology at
>               Harvard University; Feza Gunergun, history professor at
>               Istanbul University in Turkey; Park Sung-bae, Korean Studies
>               professor at the University of New York at Stony Brook; Vinh
>               Sinh, professor of Japanese Studies at the University of
>               Alberta in Canada; Keith Howard, senior lecturer in Korean
>               Studies and Music at the University of London; and Ishige
>               Naomichi, National Museum of Ethnology of Japan.
> 
>               The organizing committee operates an Internet information
>               site at http://www.cultureexpo.or.kr. Call 053-424-8403 for
>               further details.
> 
>            --------------------------------------------------------------------
>                            (C) COPYRIGHT 1998 THE HANKOOKILBO
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/14_6/9808/t465156.htm


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