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# The power of solidarity in the age of individualism

The Asian Youth Arts Festival Brand New ASIA was held at the ACC from October 24 to 31, as part of an initiative to facilitate cultural exchanges and cooperation among Asian cities. The project was driven by four pillars: to promote the growth of Young Asian artists and local art groups, identify a new model of international cultural exchange, boost the ACC’s visibility, and cement the city of Gwangju’s position as an art and culture platform in Asia. Under the theme “New Beginning, New Solidarity,” the event was broadly divided into three sections: Asia Youth Arts Camp Turning Point, Asia Culture Market Collective Asia, and the Asia Future Society Youth Forum. The programs offered participants a journey to discover new Asian values.

Agenda of Asia, Arts of Asia

The Asia Youth Arts Camp Turning Point brought together youth from four countries, including Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand and included a special exhibition, a tour of Gwangju, and an Asia youth cultural party. First of all, the special exhibition Agenda of Asia, Arts of Asia took place from October 28 to 30 at the Asia Culture Plaza. Young Asian artists worked together to develop the exhibition theme “Sustainable Development and Climate Crisis in Asia” and used their own artistic language to discuss contemporary Asian issues, ranging from extreme climate events to the ongoing climate crisis in the region.

The exhibition stemmed from a belief that Asia needs to be redefined as a network of historical and contemporary relationships, instead of a group of individual countries. It built on the collective artistic imagination of young artists across Asia to create a new discourse. The works were presented in colorfully-painted spaces using a wide range of materials to highlight the artists’ fresh perspective on issues in the region that were often neglected or understated.

For the city tour New Normal, Asia, students from four Asian countries were given a chance to explore nine innovation and cultural regeneration spaces across Gwangju, take on a challenge, and learn firsthand the city’s values of democracy, human rights and peace. The tour was aimed at encouraging the exchange of thoughts and ideas about cultural, historical, and tourist resources and national growth. Participants toured different places that represented a future environment, a modern cultural legacy, urban regeneration, youth entrepreneurship, and the humanities, followed by a discussion.

Performance by University Pendidikan Indonesia students

Performance by Vietnam National University students

The Asia youth cultural party Enjoy New Asia on October 29 featured performances combining media art and sound by young artists who participated in Brand New ASIA and local performing art groups in Gwangju. Performers included Jatagongin, ARIA X Ola, DJ DG X Mismolly, the Koryoin Village Children’s Choir, the Thai EDM producer and DJ Machina, and the young Vietnamese duo Limebóck. The audience was given a rare opportunity to enjoy distinctively Asian yet fresh collaborations among the artists across different genres. Students from Vietnam National University, University Pendidikan Indonesia, and Jakarta State University also staged a cultural performance to showcase their culture.

The second program, or the Asia Culture Market Collective Asia, was true a celebration of Asian art and culture. It was held from October 28 to 30 at the Asia Culture Plaza, with recycled shipping containers being used as stalls. The event included a unique exhibition featuring the works of 10 young Asian artists, a wide range of hands-on activities, performances, fruits and foods to enjoy, as well as a flea market selling crafts and cultural products from all across Asia. Visitors had a chance to experience the culture and art of different Asian countries.

A presenter at the Asia Future Society Youth Forum

Lastly, the Asia Future Society Youth Forum held on October 29 in ACC’s International Conference Room provided Asian youth and professionals with a platform to exchange ideas on where the values of future society would emerge. In a roundtable session, each young participant was paired up with a mentor to freely share their thoughts on “Sustainable Future Society Viewed by Asian Youth.” It was followed by an expert forum where professionals from art and cultural communities and environmental specialists presented good practices on “Building a Sustainable Society,” and the results of the roundtable session was shared.

The participants went beyond simply stating the obvious, but discussed success stories from several Asian countries and developed new and actionable insights.

A young participant at the Asia Future Society Youth Forum

Brand New ASIA was a vibrant four-day celebration of art, with a variety of performances, a flea market, and a forum to reveal different aspects of Asian culture to Gwangju citizens. More importantly, it helped develop a new model of solidarity across Asia by connecting the region’s past, present, and future with a new beginning, instead of being a one-off event. Young participants together embarked on a journey to discover new values in Asia. As long as they continue to take a step forward and envision a new Asia, the future of the region will be bright.

We often use the term “close but distant neighbors.” It means geographically close countries that are distant at heart. I personally considered Asian countries as close but distant neighbors. They were grouped as the same continent as Korea, but still remained veiled. But my experience at the Brand New ASIA festival drew us closer at heart, and now they take on a new meaning. Asia will need to work together to gather behind our shared values and build a sustainable future for the region. Hopefully, the ACC will continue to provide a platform for new ideas, cultural discourse, and celebration toward a united Asia.

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