A Special Exhibition by the Disabled Artists will be the 1st Exhibition in Blue House as a Multi purpose Culture & Art Complex
Date Aug 11, 2022
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister PARK Bo Gyoon, MCST) and the Korean Federation of Disability Cultural & Arts Associations of Korea (Head of Federation BAE Eun-joo) will hold the Special Exhibition for disabled artists in Chunchugwan, the second floor of the Blue House, on August 31 (Wed). To prepare the exhibition, artists from the Federation visited the Blue House on Aug 9 (Tue) and discussed on the organization of the event.
BAE Eun-joo (Head of the Federation), BANG Doo-young and JEONG Seong won (western painting artists), and LEE Jeong-hee (craft artist) participated in the meeting on August 9. Participants said that it is meaningful and they are grateful to have a special exhibition in the Blue House, which has been "returned into the arms of the people." The Special Exhibition for the Disabled Artists is the first exhibition to be held in the Blue House as a multi cultural and art complex. During MCST policy briefing to the Presidential Office, President YOON emphasized "There needs to be more exhibition opportunities and space for the disabled artists, novice artists, and young artists."
In the special Exhibition, about 50 pieces of artworks by 50 artists will be displayed, including KIM Hyunwoo (Pixel artist with developmental disability) and JEONG Eun-hye (actress in Our Blues with developmental disability). The second floor of Chunchugwan was used to be a presidential press conference room in the past. The following are the main remarks from the participants.
<Head of Korean Federation of Disability Cultural & Arts
Associations of Korea, BAE Eun-joo>
"It has been 13 years since A+ festival, a cultural and art festival for the disabled artists, started. This special exhibition will be the first one to be held by the disabled artists in Blue House, which returned into the arms of the people. As this has meaning in our society, I feel heavy responsibility as well. Recently, I feel that the Korean society and the government shows more interests in the arts and culture of the disabled."
<Western painting artist, BANG Doo-young with hearing impairment>
“Cultural and art activities are the only ways that the disabled artists can compete in our society and bring back dream and hope to artists themselves. I thank organizers on planning special exhibition in Chunchugwan and I do hope that there will be institution that supports novice, mid-level, and advanced artists with fairer opportunities in the future.”
<Western painting artist, JEONG Seong-won with developmental disability>
“I am more than thankful and happy that I can take part in this special exhibition.”
<Craft artist, LEE Jeong-hee with physical disability>
“I am grateful that artists with disabilities are the first to hold a special exhibition in the Blue House. We had difficult times during the Pandemic and there has been a voice of discrimination between the disabled and non-disabled. I hope that this exhibition will become a venue for harmony, not for discrimination.”