19500628

Let there be light, and there was light.

There was light in the beginning. Light was the origin of life and creation. Therefore, light was the object of worship. In Karnak, in Pantheon, in Hagia Sophia, and in Notre Dame… The light falling across the sky to the ground meant the only truth. Light was always from top to bottom and we looked up to it. Then one day, Copernicus said that the sky is not revolving. Newton dissected the light with a prism. Maxwell proved that light is also an electromagnetic wave. Edison lit the night by making a little sun. Light is now more useful, but it is not as sacred as it used to be.

Seoul, the capital of Korea, is a city of light. We loved light so much that we turned the night into day. In particular, the night view of Seoul from the Han River is fantastic. Thirty-one bridges are placed on the Han River, which crosses Seoul from east to west. The first of them was the Hangang Bridge. The Bridge is humiliated by flooding and being blown up during the war. Since then, the bridge has been restored again, and it has expanded to become a twin bridge for the increased population and transportation. It is now a space for citizens by connecting the city, riverside park, and Nodeul Island, a cultural space. As such, Korea overcame poverty and achieved shining economic growth. We call this the Miracle of the Han River.

Tell me to come to you on the water.

There was also water in the beginning. Water is a symbol of abundance like light. Civilization began by the river and the city flourished. What if light and water meet? Looking at light playing in the water, even those who do not believe in God admire the beauty of Mother Nature. Meanwhile, water always leads us to the lowest level. We look down at the surface and look back on ourselves. The light from below is the light of reflection.

Korea has passed through colonization, war, dictatorship, industrialization, and democratization over the past hundred years. In the process, there were numerous conflicts of power, which was the driving force that made Seoul metropolis. However, bright light is bound to cast a dark shadow. There have been numerous unnamed people who have fallen apart. There are people who were injured or killed by the explosion of the bridge, and those who could not evacuate because they could not cross the river. There are people who cannot endure life and throw themselves into the river, and people who climb the arch shouting for improvement of the working environment. After the war, the bridge was reconnected. The ruins were restored and the city was rebuilt. But the wound still remained in their heart.

There are many things to see and enjoy in Seoul. However, there is no space for the soul. Now, Seoul needs a space to look back. We thought the lower part of the Hangang Bridge was appropriate as the place. The Han River is a space rich in light and water. In addition, the perspective view and structural beauty of the pier give a feeling like a Gothic cathedral. We cast a huge black curtain on the bridge. This indicates a disconnection due to historical events and erases the surrounding urban context. Inside, only light, water, and one ship remain. On the inner side of the fabric, numerous pieces of metal representing the wounded souls are embroidered. Therefore, straight light from above disappear, leaving only reflected light from below. With the end of modern times, the single truth that shines like the sun has disappeared. But like the stars, countless possibilities will still remain before us.