The Seoul Design Foundation is an organization established by the Seoul Metropolitan Government with the aim of developing the design industry. It is engaged in projects necessary to spread the design industry and culture of the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Based on the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), a complex cultural space located in Jung-gu, Seoul, the basic purpose is to improve Seoul’s design competitiveness to the international level. In addition to supporting the design industry, the ‘feeling’ service design project is also being carried out. Seoul Light, which was first held in 2019, is a representative light festival in Korea, which is one of the projects of the Seoul Design Foundation, and is a representative media art festival in Korea, showcasing the works of world-class artist masters with light on the outer wall of the DDP.
The Light Festival in Lyon, France, began in 1852 and is the oldest and largest light festival in the world. Every year, Lyon becomes a playground for artistic expression as the building’s outer walls, streets, and squares are lit up with projections, light installations, and vibrant colors. The festival is hosted by the city of Lyon and features famous artists and light designers. Millions of visitors flock to Lyon to appreciate artworks, creating a festive and magical atmosphere throughout the city. The world’s first media art festival was held in 1979 as the Ars Electronica Festival in Linz, Austria. Compared to the long-standing Lyon light festival, Ars Electronica Festival, Seoul Light has a short history, but it captivates audiences with its professional technology and projection mapping, breathtaking displays of LEDs, interactive lighting, and lasers.
In addition to the light festival, the Seoul Design Foundation invites global artists to provide people with various cultural experiences such as design and art, and shows various contents with global planned exhibitions. At Seoul Light DDP 2024, global artists ATELIER SISU, STUDIOVERTIGO, and Felice Varini presented global design and art exhibitions. In addition, the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the Seoul Design Foundation, and the Dongdaemun Business District decided to form a “public-private consultative body” and cooperate to revitalize it. The formed public-private consultative body will actively participate in various expansion projects held in conjunction with SEOULIGHT in the future and make joint efforts to improve laws and systems necessary for the development of the festival to promote the long-term development of the festival.
Seoul Light DDP2024 gave a timeless impression as a media art of meeting art and technology through reinterpretation of nine works by world-renowned abstract art master Kim Hwan-ki and invitation sent by DDP to people around the world. After the show was held, the audience was constantly applauded. From August 29 to September 8, when the event was held, Seoul Light DDP2024 received more than 608,000 total visitors and an average of 55,000 daily visitors. It ended in a great success, visiting not only Koreans but also foreign tourists who visited Korea.
SALLY LEE
US ASIA JOURNAL
