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Fountain of Light: Carrying the Spirit of May 18 Through Media Arts An Interview with General Director Yoo Jae-heon and Media Art Group Universal Everything
Gwangju News, May 2022 Gwangju News, May 2022gwangjunewsgic.com gwangjunewsgic.com
FEATURE
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sk any Gwangju citizen and it is almost certain that they know about “the fountain” (분수대). Located at the May 18 Democratic Plaza in Dong-gu, it is a significant landmark for the city. In 1980, this was the very place where citizens gathered, exchanging words of support to win over the military dictatorship. The area has now become the May 18 Democracy Plaza, and the fountain together with the clock tower nearby are a testament to the very history of the city. To further its function as a city landmark, a new project has transformed the fountain into a new tourist hotspot in Gwangju through the Fountain of Light (빛의 분수대) installation. It is expected to be unveiled some time in June this year.
Promoted by Gwangju Dong-gu District Office, this project started in December 2021 as part of the “Culture Center Night Scenery Foundation Project.” The fountain aimed to foster the spirit of May 18 and to be a global cultural tourism brand representing Gwangju by laying a foundation for night tourism in the city. It functions as a regular fountain during the day, however at nighttime, the fountain comes to life with a water performance through extra-large water screens, mapping the floor of the May 18 Democracy Plaza. The hope is for it to become a new tourism spot in Gwangju. For this project, Dong-gu District Office invited artists from home and abroad to create the
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