Scientists have found the biological history of the earth. However, these attempts have some limits because they see with only human eyes and it is just a human’s guessing. So then, what is the faithful biological history of earth? Most likely, the earth remembers this fact which includes the process of history from birth of initial life to biological evolution. There is an exhibition which calls back the memory of earth! The name is ‘The Memory of Earth’. Several artists have revived the memory of the earth, which has about 4.5 billion years of history. This exhibition is held in the Jebiwool Art Gallery, which is located in Gwacheon-si Gyeonggi-do and has been operated free of charge to the public.
Maybe you will think that this exhibition is too abstract but it is, in plain words, an easy exhibition of environment art. ‘The Memory of Earth’ exhibits so many wild animals, which have lived from the prehistoric age to these days. However, a point of difference with other exhibitions is the way of looking at life. In other words, the artists make an effort to revive life from an earth viewpoint and not human viewpoint. This difference of viewpoint can discard some problems that we see nature as just a tool of mankind or think of other life lightly. All of these problems are caused by people-oriented thought. People cut a lot of trees and abandon wastes illegally to earn money. Therefore, to change our environmental problems, we must change our viewpoint to nature first. Accordingly, this exhibition has significance that it approaches environmental problems in a unique way.
This exhibition is composed of three parts. The first exhibition hall is in the Jebiwool Botanical Garden, which is operated with Jebiwool Art Gallery. Because the works of art are in the botanical garden, they, mostly animal pieces, look as if they are living and breathing in the jungle. This place’s name is ‘The Lost Forest’. Therefore, there are animals, which were exterminated in ancient times, and are endangered or threatened now. A gorilla piece composed of wood and string, named ‘The Gloomy Peter Pan’ by Lee Jin Hyung, is so impressive. Its name, Peter Pan, which has the bright mind of child, contrasts with the gloomy expression and dark colors. And then ‘The family’ by Choi Seung Ho is the art piece that is a mother gorilla, which has a baby pig in her arms. This special setting that a gorilla and pig is one family gives a feeling of humor and affection.
The second and third exhibition is in the Jebiwool main art gallery. It is just beside Jebiwool Botanical Garden. The exhibition building, which is constructed in a traditional Korean-style, gives an oriental touch, but its interior is bright and modern. In the main hall, bright lighting and a color tone of art works make sure we feel a bright and modern mood. The second and third exhibits are different from the first exhibition. It is pictures and photographs.
The second exhibition is named ‘The Memory of Jungle’. Most art works in this second exhibition are treated like wise lovable animals. At every turn, there are pets with smiling faces and cute animals look like they were delighted to see a guest. Most people in this place view these art works with a bright expression. In this place, an unusual art work attracts people’s eyes. There is a penguin in an orange tropical rain forest. Ordinarily, a penguin lives in a cold polar region, but this penguin is in a hot tropical rain forest. This paradoxical situation gives people a powerful message about global warming.
One important point of the second exhibition is that there are some art works stimulating our memories of childhood. When we were a child, most of us loved animals from very small insects to big elephants. For this reason, we enjoyed traveling in the valleys to catch fish or go to the zoo to see fearful tigers. In addition, we used to collect insects and buy a butterfly catcher when summer vacation came. Nevertheless, as we grow into adulthood, we become estranged from loving animals step-by-step. The second exhibition prepares some of art works that waken memories of childhood, and feelings of homesickness. There are not only art works about animals which children love, but also scenes that children are playing with animals in nature. For example, ‘In the Streamside’, art works made by Lee Young Su, there is a scene that a child is playing with a dragonfly in a stream. Kim Ki Hong, an office worker living in the Seoul, says “Meanwhile, I have forgotten to think about animals, because I have lived in my busy life, but this picture makes me feel nostalgia, and I think that I must be concerned about animals again. This way through stimulating people’s memories of childhood is so fresh and impressive.”
The third exhibition named ‘The Dream of Earth’ is exhibiting art works made by Lee Joo Yong. He is painting pictures and publishing books about natural ecology. He describes pictures realistically. Even when people first look at his pictures, many people mistake his pictures for photographs. Reptiles look like a snake and lizard or freshwater tortoise look like they are actually living in the pictures.
Most artists participating in this exhibition engage in their field professionally. “In this exhibition, our art gallery requests artists to stick to their professional field only. For example, Ahn Mi Sun is only making art works about a cat among many animals. I think that this specificity makes the level of their art works raise, because there are too many animals in our nature.” Kim Ka Hyun, curator engaged in the Jebiwool Art Gallery, said.
We have experienced campaigns which aim to protect the environment or endangered animals. Most posters and environmental arts are made by materials that are possible to pollute nature. However, these materials have a problem, so people are concerned about how dangerous it can be. In other words, people must protect endangered animals; otherwise, people lose their pure affection to animals. “We originally loved nature and animals when we were young.” It is believable because most children love playing with animals and plants in nature. However, we have lost affection for nature and animals, because of our daily burdens that we must protect them. Accordingly, we need to change our former ways of protecting the environment into ways that make people have affection for the environment. If people have affection for the environment, they cherish and protect the environment naturally. This exhibition also follows this way, too. There are cute and lovable animals in the exhibition. In fact, many people are enjoying this exhibition without any burden.” Curator, Kim Ka Hyun, says.
There are people thinking that the art is so hard because it is abstract and has deep meanings. Then people often have readiness of mind or think meaningfully before entering the art exhibition. Of course, art has certain levels of difficultly by courses because they are made by artist’s individual concept. However, this exhibition is different from other art exhibitions. It is composed so simply and easily because the artists who participate in this exhibition think that the environmental art must be approachable to the normal masses.
This exhibition is easy enough to enjoy and understand for everyone from child to people who don’t like art. “I used to think that art is difficult to understand, so I have not visited art exhibitions frequently. However, this time is different from those former times. The many works of art are made to be understandable. Even my child views and says his opinion about the works of art.” Kim Kyung-hee, a house wife living in the Seoul, says. The works of arts are mostly dealt with well-known wild animals. We can see many familiar animals in this exhibition, for example Gorilla, zebra, dogs, pigs and various kinds of insects. All of them are animals that we often see from television or in many books so that we can view them without heavy thinking.
The Jebiwool Art Gallery is surrounded by a luxuriant green forest. If you see lovable animals in this green forest, maybe you will feel affection for them. The exhibition of lovable animals including beautiful nature gives a comfort place to rest for people. For this reason, there are mainly family visitors, who visit to enjoy the comfort. Artistes make an effort to give an easy leisurely time to guests, chances of coexisting with nature to people, and spectators are truly happy with this exhibition.