Gwangju International Center

SPEAKER: Fernando Garcia-Dory

CO-WRITER:​ Hojin Noh

GIC TALK DATE: April 16, 2016

GIC TALK TITLE: INLAND

Today, the GIC was glad to host two GIC Talk speakers. The second GIC Talk was presented by Fernando Garcia-Dory, who introduced INLAND, which refers to a para-institution that ultimately opens a space for artistic practice in relation to specific territories and collective work. Fernando explained how he is engaged in examining the role of territories, geopolitics, culture and identity in the relationship between the city and the countryside.

The aim of the INLAND project is to introduce the possibility of contemporary art practice in relation to the rural, and how that context might modify the way art happens and circulates. Today's GIC Talk speaker showed us what he worked on to identify the role of city and the countryside territories. His work was very interesting and we could understand how worthwhile it was for him to do this work, referred as both art and occupation.

One of the most impressive part of his presentation was when he introduced the new project he is engaged in and the reason why he came to Gwangju, as part of the Gwangju Biennale 2016: The INLAND project at Ilgok-dong, Gwang-ju. He said that it was an area that was used as a cultivating place but which was left unused as the owner of the land became older. So, the organization he is engaged in right now is operating this project.

Fernando, as an artist, will make a draft for positioning buildings and facilities in the project. 

Finally, in the Q&A portion of his GIC Talk, he mentioned that we are surrounded by artificial artifacts. So he suggested that everyone of us should see the world as an artist and not just as a spectator.