For over a month (50 days), we lived alongside the residents of Soyang-myeon in Wanju-gun, sharing their lives, learning from their wisdom, and listening to stories about their vanishing heritage. Drawing inspiration from these exchanges, we explored diverse artistic expressions, creating a performance that delved into the narratives of native and migrant communities, as well as the future of Seoul and South Korea.
Our work focused on documenting the “memories” of Yulgok Village in Wanju through the medium of theater. By employing various theatrical techniques, we transformed the intangible memories of the residents into tangible cultural expressions. From the creative process to the final performance, we collaborated with local residents to bring this production to life.
Masks were a central theatrical element in this project. The masks represented the faces of the local residents, which the performers embodied and interpreted on stage. Beyond the performance itself, we also engaged in public art programs with children from Soyang-myeon. Together, we crafted masks as part of a collective effort to involve both the children and the broader community in the creation process.
““Bridging artists in search of workspaces with Wanju’s unused, uninhabited spaces.”
The Wanju Artists’ Monthly Residency was established in response to Wanju’s challenges with depopulation, abandoned houses, and a scarcity of young artists. Since 2017, this initiative has been pairing artists in need of creative workspaces with empty spaces in Wanju, revitalizing the town with fresh energy while providing artists with new sources of inspiration for their work.
By Wanju Cultural Center
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IktULnhCevA
https://youtu.be/xgxIKRxFPkk?si=crsutjZxC_ETpHNd
<aside> <img src="/icons/postcard_gray.svg" alt="/icons/postcard_gray.svg" width="40px" /> To Yulgok Maeul
This letter began its journey in Wanju’s Yulgok Village, passed through Seoul, and is now returning to Wanju. It is written for another artist who is excited to experience Yulgok Village.
Yulgok Village in Wanju can be quite hot in the summer. The village is surrounded by lush mountains, and when the summer rains fall, the water evaporates almost instantly. Despite the heat, the view from the village stone marker, gazing inward at the village, is indescribably beautiful. If you’re lucky, you might even see a rainbow. In Seoul, the humidity often feels oppressive, but in Yulgok Village, the droplets dancing in the air feel as though they cleanse your body.
The village hall is the perfect place to warm up after a summer typhoon. The welcoming hospitality of the mothers there will warm not only your body but also your heart, and you’ll get to enjoy delicious and healthy meals. Mother Jeomsun’s godeulppaegi kimchi has a unique, healthy spiciness you won’t find elsewhere. If you visit Mother Jeomrye’s house, you might help fix her frequently broken TV (it’s usually easy, though occasionally tricky), and you’ll have the chance to meet her adorable cats.
Before returning to Dalbitpum, the house where the moonlight resides, take a moment to visit the blue-roofed house guarded by a large, sturdy dog. There, Father Yu Pyung-hee will greet you and share the village’s history, which is as captivating as any play.
In Soyang-myeon, where Yulgok Village is located, there is Soyang Elementary School. If you bring a soccer ball to the wide schoolyard, you’re bound to have a fun encounter with the children.
Dalbitpum, softly illuminated by moonlight, is a place where new and magical events unfold daily. In the orbit of Seoul, such wonders are rare, but here, they happen frequently. Of course, these mysteries will differ from what we experienced, leaving us just as curious as you.
We look forward to the “once-in-a-lifetime community” that fate may one day bring us together, where we can share the stories this letter couldn’t capture.
Hoping this letter of fortune continues its journey, from the theater-making youths of ‘Creative Collective Next-door to the Earth.’
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