WEBZINE ACC

I have a wide stride and I walk at a fast pace. If I walk with someone for the first time, they often ask,

“Why do you walk so fast?”

“Yes. I hear that a lot.”

I intermittently stop and walk as I watch them try to catch their breath. I wait with a relaxed expression, smiling brightly.

I use my lunchtimes to enjoy leisurely visits to the Asia Culture Center (ACC). I quickly finish my lunch and, with the remaining time, visit the nearby ACC to view exhibitions or take a stroll around the area.

On some days, I visit the “View Folly”

Michel de Certeau said,

Gwangju's “View Folly” was like that. At lunchtime, taking the elevator from the first floor of Gwangju Visual Content Center, you arrive at Gwangju Poly Info Center (6th floor). When you reach the rooftop, you are greeted by a spacious area where the ACC approaches with an overwhelming feeling. From afar, you can see the scenic beauty of Mudeungsan Mountain, the panoramic view of the ACC, old downtown area, and the close and distant landscapes of Gwangju all at once.

Gwangju Folly began as 11 urban follies in 2011, coinciding with the Gwangju Design Biennale. “View Folly” and installation artwork “Autonomous Architecture” were installed as part of the Gwangju Folly 3rd project, with the core concept of “everydayness of the city.” It was installed by Moon Hoon and Jan Edler and Tim Edler of realities:united. Amidst the brightly colored stripes of hot pink and lemon, cityscapes unfold refreshingly between the staircase and the viewing deck.

Jeonilmaru View

I watched the movie “Where Would You Like to Go?” directed by Kim Hee-jeong with L, a friend of mine whom I hadn’t seen in a long time. A journey of loss and mourning in both Gwangju and Warsaw, Poland. There were many familiar place names and locations in the movie. The view of Jeonilmaru, where Hae-su races on a skateboard in the movie, caught my eye. L and I headed to Jeonil Building 245, where Jeonilmaru is located.

Jeonil Building 245, located across from the ACC, is a place where the past and present of Gwangju intersect. The location of Jeonil Building, 1-1 Geumnamno 1(il)-ga, was once a printing house during the Japanese colonial era. Afterwards, it became a space where five local media companies in the Honam region, including Honam Shinmun and Gwangju Ilbo, emerged. Built in 1968, Jeonil Building housed not only newspapers but also broadcasting stations, art galleries, libraries, and coffee shops, sharing memories with the citizens of Gwangju.

Jeonil Building also faced the threat of demolition. However, during the Gwangju Uprising, traces of helicopter gunfire was found, and after undergoing about 4 years of remodeling, it was reborn as Jeonil Building 245 in May 2020. 245 also represents the number of bullet marks found on the building. The logo of Jeonil Building 245 features a representation of the bullet mark in the shape of a circle, placed in the center.

"The new military regime,
shocked by a report by German journalist Jürgen Hinzpeter of ARD in the mid-1980s,
who wrote that ‘The clock tower knows the truth of what happened in May 1980,’
secretly moved the clock tower to Nongseong Square in Seo-gu one midnight,
and now it's back in its original place after 35 years.”

“That's interesting.”

At the clock tower, every day at 5:18 PM, “March for Our Beloved” is played, commemorating the individuals who sacrificed themselves for the democratization of South Korea. The clock tower in the 5.18 Democracy Square, seen from Jeonilmaru, forms a part of the everyday scenery, depicting a faded photograph. It is now not only a historical monument but also a part of the daily landscape.

When it got dark,

R and I arrived in Gwangju for a 1-night, 2-day itinerary. After having dinner, we went up to the rooftop of our accommodation. At the same time, we both reminisced about a late afternoon in a past autumn.

“There, Haneul Madang”

“That’s right.”

“Didn’t we lay down a mat and drink canned beer?
We sang together, but not so loud as to disturb the people around us.”

We recalled the memory of the tickling sensation of the grass beneath our bare feet. That’s right. It was great to lie down in the Hanul Madang and gaze at the Media Cube images, thinking of it as an outdoor theater.

The skylights on the rooftop garden of the ACC Archive & Research sparkled in the distance. The concept of “Forest of Light” by architect Kyu Sung-woo, symbolizing the city of light, Gwangju, is embodied in it. The skylights serve as windows during the day, allowing natural light to illuminate the underground indoor space, and in the evening, they act as streetlights, allowing indoor light to spill out and illuminate the rooftop garden.

As the sun sets and darkness falls, we encounter the beautiful night view of Gwangju, which shines even more brilliantly.

“Ah, autumn is almost here.”