[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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