Preview of the Gwangju Design Biennale 2007 - You too can see the L.I.G.H.T.

By Ania Dardas

It’s not too late: the Gwangju Design Biennale 2007 started in early October in the city of Gwangju, in the Republic of Korea, but is going on until November 3. This time the Biennale has taken L.I.G.H.T. as its theme and it stands for the five zones: Link to the Future, Idea/Identity/Inspiration, Green Growth, Horizon of Humanity and Tides of Light. A total of 2007 works from 38 countries are on display and they include internationally acclaimed architects and designers such as Vito Acconci, Hani Rashid, Konstantin Grcic and Jacopo Foggini.

In the context of the biennale, design is regarded as a source of light for humanity, the environment and the future. According to General Director of the biennale Soon-In Lee, “Design is a living, breathing organism that connects man to his environment through light. This light that is design, both illuminating and beautiful, allows people to find comfort in their surroundings.”

The five exhibition zones deal with different aspects of design. Link to the Future looks at design advances in digital technology, urban planning and visual communications as well as design evolution in home appliances. Idea/Identity/Inspiration is showing the work of renowned German artist and designer Konstantin Grcic, among which is his Mayday Lamp, which won the Compasso d’Oro in 2001 and is now on permanent display in the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Environmentally conscious design is the focus of Green Growth, while social design takes center stage in Horizon of Humanity. Finally, Tides of Light takes visitors to the light itself, through transmutations and prisms, where music turns into light and light is reflected through crystal ...

As usual there is a full and absorbing program of lectures to complement the exhibits as well as special exhibitions and enough to see to satisfy even the most demanding seeker of light.