At the opening ceremony held on the 15th in the Culture Street area of Jung-gu, Ulsan, Artistic Director Park Seong-hwan introduces the participating artists (left). Celebration performance. ©Ulsan Ilbo

Since June 15, the 2022 Culture Street Contemporary Art Festival, themed "From Now to Now," has been taking place in the Culture Street area of Jung-gu, Ulsan. Last weekend, unpredictable weather alternated between torrential rain from the monsoon season and scorching sunlight, but despite this, visitors—families and couples out for a weekend stroll—continued to explore the various galleries and exhibition sites throughout the old town of Jung-gu.

Even with the fluctuating weather, visitors wandered through Culture Street, enjoying various visual art installations and escaping the summer heat while having a pleasant time.


General Equivalence Form – Difference Without Identity by artist Son Hye-kyung, installed in Culture Street, Jung-gu, Ulsan ©Ulsan Ilbo

One of the most eye-catching works at this year’s festival was an installation by artists Son Hye-kyung and Eom A-rong, placed at the heart of Culture Street. Many visitors sat on benches with their families or pets, appreciating the artwork and taking commemorative photos.

At Art Space Gru and Gallery Wall, which stand side by side, visitors encountered installation art pieces with distinct concepts, adding to the enjoyment of the exhibition. Visitors were engrossed in taking pictures in front of the unique themes and diverse materials used in the artworks.


Nudy Hallucination by artist Omyocho ©Ulsan Ilbo

Kim Chang-hyuk, a visitor, commented, “Hosting an art festival in the Culture Street area is an interesting initiative. The diversity of exhibitions across different forms and fields makes it fresh and engaging for viewers.”

Meanwhile, various screenings and installation artworks were displayed at (New) Magnolia Hall, a repurposed vacant space in Jung-gu’s old town, offering a unique viewing experience. Despite its aged and worn-down appearance, the space’s identity and character were well preserved and harmonized with the exhibition, receiving positive feedback.

Cho Eun-young, another visitor, shared, “I used to think contemporary art was abstract and difficult to understand, but after attending this festival every year and taking time to explore the works, I’ve found it to be a refreshing experience. However, while the use of vacant spaces for exhibitions was a great idea, the lack of explanations for some works made it difficult to fully appreciate them.”


Can You Hear My Voice?  by Woosung Lee, exhibited at Gagi Photo Gallery ©Ulsan Ilbo

At Taehwa Eoul Madang, an exhibition space within Jung-gu Culture Center, large-scale hanging paintings by artist Lee Woo-sung and installation works by artist Ki Ye-rim provided a relaxing environment where visitors could both appreciate the art and unwind over the weekend.


Teenagers experiencing artist Park Sol-ah’s capsule vending machine artwork ©Ulsan Ilbo

Artist Park Sol-ah’s capsule vending machine artwork NFT, installed throughout Culture Street, also attracted significant attention. Visitors could insert tokens they received while touring the exhibition to receive small artwork-filled capsules. However, since many people mistakenly inserted 100–500 KRW coins, the machine’s coin slot frequently got jammed, causing minor disruptions.

The 2022 Culture Street Contemporary Art Festival will continue until the 24th. The exhibition is open daily from 10 AM to 7 PM across Culture Street and nearby galleries.

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