A special exhibition reflecting on 40 years of shared history between Jeonnam and Gwangju is now open.
The Jeonnam Gwangju Special City announced on September 20 that the exhibition titled 'We Were One, Again' will be held at the Muan Government Complex Gallery until October 28, commemorating the launch of the special city.
The exhibition features 32 works from the Jeonnam and Gwangju Art Museums. It uses 1986, the year the two regions were administratively separated, as a temporal reference to explore the cultural heritage they shared, the changes that followed, and the significance of their reunification through art.
The exhibition is divided into three sections: 'Once One Namdo,' 'Two Paths: Nature and City,' and 'The Future of Integration.'
In the first section, 'Once One Namdo,' visitors can experience the natural landscapes, traditions, and communities of Jeonnam and Gwangju before 1986. Works such as Yoon Jae-woo's 'Mokpo Port in Early Spring,' Yang Soo-ah's 'Gosso Battle,' and Lee Gi-wol's 'Bulgapsa Temple' will be on display.
The second section, 'Two Paths: Nature and City,' focuses on the changes each region has undergone since their administrative separation. Through works like Yang Na-hee's 'Origin' and Lee Min's 'Yangrim-dong Shopping District,' the exhibition reflects on memories of nature, urban life, history, and daily experiences.
The final section, 'The Future of Integration,' highlights the themes of coexistence, collaboration, and connection between the two regions. Works such as Kang Un's 'Air and Dreams' and Kim Seo-ryang's 'The Remembered Land - Haenam' will be featured.
Additionally, Kang Hong-gu's 'Mudflat, Gijumdo, Hwado, Euido' and Kim Young-tae's 'Memories of the City, Chungjangno' will allow visitors to compare the landscapes and memories of Jeonnam's islands and tidal flats with Gwangju's urban center.
Lee Gil-yong, the cultural policy director of Jeonnam Gwangju Special City, expressed hope that the exhibition would provide an opportunity to reflect on the shared past of Jeonnam and Gwangju and consider the new future of the integrated special city through culture and art. He also stated, 'We will make the Muan Government Complex Gallery an open space for citizens to enjoy culture and art in their daily lives.'
The 'We Were One, Again' exhibition will run until October 28 at the Muan Government Complex Gallery and is free for all visitors. The Jeonnam Gwangju Special City aims to explore the cultural roots shared by the two regions and the common future they will create together, beyond the history of administrative integration.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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