The connection between Korea and Italy, established over 30 years ago during the construction of the Korean Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, was revisited through records.
The Korea Arts and Culture Education Service (Arco) presented the 'Franco Mancuso Oral History' during a book talk titled 'Italy? Books! - Italians Encountering Korea' at the Italian Embassy in Korea on September 11.
The event featured a book talk program where Korean authors introduced Italian culture, aimed at expanding cultural exchanges and understanding between the two countries.
Professor Jeon Jin-young, an honorary professor at Myongji University and a key researcher for the Mancuso oral history, shared insights on the academic and cultural significance of the records. Holding qualifications in both Korean and Italian architectural history, Professor Jeon is a leading scholar in promoting Italy's urban and architectural culture in Korea. He detailed the architectural considerations and the meaning of cooperation between the two countries as expressed in Mancuso's oral history.
The Korean Pavilion, completed in 1995, is a remarkable achievement that overcame numerous challenges, including local cultural administration in Venice and strict building regulations. Mancuso (1937-) is the only surviving architect who co-designed the pavilion with Kim Seok-cheol (1943-2016) and can testify to the circumstances of that time.
In this context, the Arco Art Archive recorded Mancuso's experiences from the 1990s during the construction of the Korean Pavilion and published the oral history book titled 'Research on the Opening and Operation of the Korean Pavilion at the Venice Biennale II: Construction and Remodeling Plans' in 2025.
The Italian Embassy in Korea provided diplomatic support from the early 1990s, advocating for the necessity of the Korean Pavilion's construction to its home country. Due to this connection, Emilia Gatto, the Italian Ambassador to Korea, personally wrote the preface for Mancuso's oral history.
During the event, Ambassador Gatto remarked, "The work highlighting the history of the construction and operation of the Korean Pavilion by Arco holds special value. It serves as a meaningful example of how memories of Korean-Italian cultural cooperation can be passed on to future generations, creating a new bridge between the two cultures."
Additionally, the exhibition 'One Table: 7. PAPER TO SPACE, Korean Pavilion' will be held at the Arco Art Archive's headquarters in Seocho-dong until November 30. This exhibition is based on the collection of the Korean Pavilion and materials donated by Mancuso. Visitors will be able to see the negotiation processes between the two countries surrounding the pavilion's construction, as well as the architectural considerations involved in completing the space.
Commissioner Lee Beom-hun stated, "It is very meaningful that the oral history book of Mancuso, which captures the history of the Korean Pavilion's construction at the Venice Biennale, shines as a representative case of cultural exchange between the two countries. I hope many people will encounter the value of Korean-Italian cultural cooperation that transcends time and space through the One Table exhibition, which is based on the collection and materials established by the Arco Art Archive."
Arco plans to continue strengthening the recording and preservation of cultural and artistic assets and to pursue various domestic and international cooperation projects utilizing these resources.
Mancuso is an architect and urban design researcher who taught at IUAV in Venice and co-designed the Korean Pavilion, which opened in 1995, with the late Kim Seok-cheol. The two developed their design through sketches and plans exchanged via fax between Seoul and Venice from 1993 to 1995, making several revisions during discussions with local permitting authorities in Venice.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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