2017 Jisan Valley Rock Music & Arts Festival

Art Performance, CJ E&M Art Creation, 2016

Again, this year, Jisan Valley Rock Music & Arts Festival wouldn’t disappoint. From Gorillaz and Lorde who are performing in Korea for the first time, to Sigur Rós, Gallant, Major Lazer, Diplo, Hyukoh, Nell and Dean, this now 8-year-old festie has lined up to impress. But this summer, that’s not all. With its evolvement as a music and arts festival beginning last year, Valley Rock’s bringing a lot to see and sense, right on the event site on the upcoming weekend.

In addition to the existing facilities, 3 more stages and an art gate are being freshly set up by CJ E&M’s Art Creation division. The refreshed scenery and skyline will accommodate inspiring modern art installations created by some of Korea's most talented artists at the moment: Seendosi, Yun Sabi, Hong Seung Hye, NOH Sangho, Osang Gwon and Kwon Yongju. With expert art journalist Ho Kyoung-yun directing the outdoor show, the trendsetting, boundary-redefining artists are bringing dreamy, surreal motifs into reality on the lush green plain of Jisan.

Hong Seung Hye, Exhibition View of <Point·Line·Plane>, 2016

The first work you’ll likely find at the site is Hong Seung Hye’s Victoria. Installed on top of a greenery-covered ski slope, this 5 meter-high pictogram figure consists of an endless number of pixels. While reflecting Hong’s signature style, what distinguishes this piece is the kinetic element incorporated to create the alphabet ‘V’ signifying ‘victory’ and, you guessed it, Valley Rock. At night, the digital yet organic goddess of victory lights up with light-emitting diodes, offering a hopeful and mysterious welcome with, obviously, a capital V.

Sabi Yun, Exhibition View of <Abstract Algebra>, 2015

Below Hong Seung Hye’s Victoria, Sabi Yun’s Prism will be installed. Consisting of 9 hologram structures, Yun’s work will shed light on hidden elements of mundanity by articulating abstract phenomena with symbols, while physically revealing wavelengths of light. Depending on the viewer’s position and on the time of the day, what this actively site-specific work showcases will alter. Obliquely placed on the lawn down the ski slope, Prism will serve as an outdoor lounging space for all visitors, as well.

Osang Gwon, <New Structure 14>, 2016

Osang Gwon has been garnering the attention from both the artists’ circle and the public, largely thanks to his unique work in mixed media and collaboration with the likes of Keane and G-Dragon. For this year’s Jisan Valley Rock Music & Arts Festival, he has taken a collection of images of the participating musicians as his motif. Created in Gwon’s style of delicately collaging 2-dimensional images into a 3-dimensional structure—which is consistently observed in his latest New Structure series—the work will be installed right across the main stage, The V, manifesting a surreal scene of musicians and their images facing one another.

Seendosi, <Hidden Bar>, 2016

Art enthusiasts recognize their name; others would recognize the same name as “that hipster place” in Euljiro. That’s right, it’s Seendosi, the duo of photographer Lee Yoon-ho and multimedia artist/designer/musician Lee Byeong-jae: who’s picked up and refurbished the former electronic technicians' school housed in a rundown building, transforming it into a coworking space by day/a happening bar and lounge by night. For this year’s Valley Rock, Seendosi and team are bringing Hidden Bar, which is an art installation and an actual bar. Installed by the stream (yes, there’s a natural stream inside the resort, where crayfish-like creatures dwell) located on the opposite side of the main stage, The V, this “hidden” spot offers art, booze and parties (starting from midnight). Just don’t give up on your first try—this secretive “festie within the festie,” is open for those who seek.

Kwon Yongju, <Waterfall_Structure of Survival>, 2014

Artist Kwon Yongju, who’s been showcasing unique approaches compiling abandoned or otherwise discarded objects, is bringing his “aesthetics of ruins” outdoors. A variation of Kwon’s Waterfall series, this vibrant 7 meter-high installation has been created exclusively for this year’s Valley Rock. Using new materials including a sprinkler system, this human-made waterfall will offer a splash full of inspiration. Its location will be furthest from the ticket booth, but it’ll sure be worth the stroll.

NOH Sangho, Exhibition View of <The Great Chapbook>, 2016

In addition to the installation works, 2017 Jisan Valley Rock Music & Arts Festival is showcasing artworks for takeaway. The T-money cards and A Twosome Place gift cards being released for the event features works of artist NOH Sangho, who is also known as “Nemonan” and as the artist of the album cover for the band Hyukoh. The showcased style is that observed in his daily fiction series, for which NOH collected images online, traced and wrote stories. The works tell stories that are found behind diverse and hidden scenes of Jisan Valley Rock Music & Arts Festival, serving as a fun and practical souvenir, for sure.

Main gate, BYUL.ORG, 2016

From the impressive musician line-up to the exciting art exhibit, it pretty much seems like a magical time of pure synesthetic joy awaits down at Jisan Valley Rock Music & Arts Festival. Don’t miss the chance to immerse yourself in music, nature and oh-so-intriguing collection of art this summer.