In an art exhibition titled-Being, Another, hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, Oh Youngsook, a popular Korean contemporary artist, explored the possibilities of marrying cultures with art.

The exhibition which was held on Monday evening at the Hôtel des Mille Collines was attended by several dignitaries, including local government officials, members of the diplomatic corps attached to Rwanda and artistes among others.

In a solo exhibition, Youngsook, who is currently a resident in Kigali, took various aspects of Korean traditional culture and brought them into her composition. She has 21 artworks displayed across various areas at Hôtel des Mille Collines; from the entrance and lobby to La Terrace, during the month-long exhibition now. Monday’s exhibition was open to invited guests only.

Youngsook, an active member of the Korean community in Rwanda, has hosted 16 solo exhibitions in different cities around the world including Seoul, Frankfurt and Osaka, and has received several prestigious awards in Korea such as the Donga Art Prize in 2000. Some of her artworks are part of the collection at Seoul Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Minister of Sports and Culture, Julienne Uwacu told The New Times that the art exhibition offered an opportunity not only to local artists but also to the government to see how best they can support the art sector in Rwanda.

"This was also a learning exhibition, our artists should look at how they can organise such art exhibitions in and outside the country, and we are willing to support them. Artists should as well try to be creative and come up with crafts that resonate with both cultural with contemporary materials,” Uwacu urged.

According to the Korean Ambassador to Rwanda Park Yong-min, the event is one of a series of cultural events organised by the Korean Embassy to connect the people of Rwanda and Korea beyond the physical distance between the two countries.

The embassy has previously hosted a concert by Korean violinist Chung Kyungwha, the Korean Film Festival, annual Ambassador’s Cup Taekwondo Competition, among other events.

"The art exhibition is yet another great opportunity for the people of the two countries to better understand and get closer to each other through Art,” said, Yong-min, adding that he has visited a number of art galleries in Rwanda and he is "quite impressed by their work, but there is always a room to learn from fellow renown artists like Youngsook,”

Youngsook says that she looks forward to working with local artists in promoting art industry.

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