'D-3' Gwangju Biennale cumulative number of visitors: 410,000

Exhibition and special exhibition of works by 43 teams of artists received positive response

(Jeonnam Gwangju = Yonhap News) Reporter Jang A-reum = 410,000 people visited the 16th Gwangju Biennale, which is about to close after completing its 72-day exhibition journey on the 15th.

According to the Gwangju Biennale Foundation on the 12th, the cumulative number of visitors to this year's Biennale, which opened on September 5 with the theme 'You Must Change Your Life', recorded 410,000 as of the 11th.

The foundation predicted that a total of 440,000 people would visit the exhibition hall and pavilion (special hall) by the closing day.

43 teams of artists explored humans and nature, the body and relationships, landscape and learning, the universe and change, etc. through over 300 works.

At this year's exhibition, various viewing services were operated to aid visitors' understanding.

'Docent Q', an artificial intelligence (AI)-based multilingual art guide service used by more than 20,000 people, received favorable reviews by providing visitors with information on the work, exhibition contents, and meaning of the work when visitors scan the QR code in the exhibition hall and take a picture of the work.

About 12,700 people participated in nearly 250 professional docent interpretation programs, and a walking tour linking Gwangju's history and cultural and artistic spaces, a customized tour for the disabled, and sign language interpretation were also operated.

However, with regard to the number of works and space utilization due to the reduction in the size of the main exhibition, some say that the blank space and repetitive arrangement of works increased concentration, but others said that it was disappointing in terms of the diversity of works.

There was also high interest in special exhibitions presented by 26 countries, cities, and cultural and arts organizations in a total of 27 pavilions.

Cultural facilities such as the National Asia Culture Center (ACC), Gwangju Museum of Art, Gwangju History and Folk Museum, Donggok Museum, Gwangju Media Art Platform, Lee Kang-ha Art Museum, Holly Art Polygon, Yangnim Culture Spring, Lee Lee-nam Studio, Dong-gu Humanities Hall, Yangnim Art Museum, Yangnim Artium, Chungjang 22 Cultural Center, Eunam Art Museum, missionary Woo Il-seon's residence, Historical locations such as Lee Jang-woo's house and Jeonil Building 245 were used as exhibition halls.

The Gwangju Biennale Foundation plans to hold a closing ceremony with sponsors at the Gwangju Biennale Gigi Hall at 6 p.m. on the 15th.