From the 31st of August, a small exhibition has been displayed on the barriers of the Grass Plaza construction site, located in front of the Gwanak Campus Administration Building. Named the Art Wall, SNU students organized this exhibition where they presented the winning art pieces of the art competition that took place last June. The exhibit, which transformed the desolate construction site into a beautiful art venue, will last until the construction barrier is demolished this coming spring.
The Grand Prize Artwork ‘SNU+’ (created by Feng Shan, College of Engineering)
Viewing the school and campus from different perspectives
The renovation of the Grass Plaza started in April this year and is scheduled to be completed in October 2022. However, the eight-meter construction barrier that will remain in place throughout the construction period has been criticized for obscuring the pedestrians’ view. As a result, the school decided to decorate the barrier with art pieces that were submitted voluntarily by students.
Though Seoul National University was the theme of many of these artworks, the style and subject of the pieces varied widely. Art pieces were submitted not only by art majors but also by students of other majors such as engineering or humanities. In this way, it was interesting to observe how different majors perceived the school and its environment differently. For example, the winning art piece “SNU+” was submitted by Feng Shan (Department of Architecture & Architectural Engineering) and depicted a zero-gravity world where astronauts floated around with replicas of the iconic SNU main gate. The picture communicated the vision of a knowledge community where various specialized fields freely cooperate with each other.
Participation Award Artwork ‘playing field’ (created by Park Yu Hyeon, College of Fine Arts)
“Playing Field,” by art major Park Yu Hyeon (Department of Painting) shows the changing appearance of the school field throughout the seasons. Through this portrayal, the artwork provided a new visual experience of the field that students often walk past unconsciously. “Contrary to our prediction that the majority of the submissions will be from students majoring in art, we received artworks from a wide range of students from various different departments. I was fascinated to see all the amazing art pieces that broke stereotypes,” said Jeon Seong Gyu of the Division of Student Services, the organizer of the Art Wall project.
Becoming a space of exchange between a variety of interests
Participation Award Artwork “In Between the Texts” (created by Kim Seong Min, College of Humanities)
Apart from the theme of the university, there was also a wide range of submissions that explored students’ personal interests or thoughts. Kim Seong Min’s piece, “In Between the Texts,” communicated the student’s love for books through the illustration of the student reading while surrounded by gigantic books. “I wanted to portray people transcending the constraints of time and space through words inside a utopia filled with books and words like Borges’ ‘Library of Babel’,” said Kim Seong Min, when asked to explain the inspiration behind the painting.
Excellence Award Artwork “A Piece of Cake” (created by Choi Yewon, College of Fine Arts)
There were even artworks that revitalized people exhausted from the COVID-19 pandemic and their busy daily lives. Through combining smooth ink and hanji, Choi Yewon (Department of Oriental Painting) painted a picture of a delicious cake, inviting those who felt lethargic due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic to a world that was as relaxing as eating dessert. Being part of the “Class of COVID-19”, the Grass Plaza holds precious memories for Choi Yewon as it was the location where she participated in the freshmen orientation for the first and last time just before her first semester started. “I was elated to be able to display my artwork in such a special space. I look forward to treasuring further memories when the newly remodeled Grass Plaza opens,” she said. The art piece “Into Seoul National University” by SNU student Park Da Nyeong (Department of Aerospace Engineering), drew a model of the campus and situated small and large symbols of the university within it. The piece captivated viewers through the excitement of searching for each symbol one by one. Jo Chang Hyeon (Department of Korean History), viewed the Art Wall with great appreciation. “I used to feel stifled every time I walked past the construction site but as the barrier became embellished with beautiful drawings one day, walking past it became a refreshing experience.”
Participation Award Artwork ‘Into Seoul National University’ (created by Park Da Nyeong, College of Engineering)
The Grass Plaza’s Art Wall, which decorated the once colorless construction site next to the Administrative Building, is located near the library. Viewing the art pieces when taking a break from studying can be an enriching experience.
Source: https://www.snu.ac.kr/snunow/snu_story?md=v&bbsidx=133451
Written by Yeryoung Lee, SNU English Editor, yeryounglee@snu.ac.kr
Reviewed by Professor Travis Smith, Department of Asian Languages and Civilizations, tlsmith@snu.ac.kr