The exhibition “Lights of Korea” goes on display at the Casa G20 between September 3 and 20, in a special edition with free access. The equipment works in the building of the Casa da Cultura Laura Alvim, located at Avenida Vieira Souto, 176, Ipanema, of the Fundação Anita Mantuano de Artes of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Funarj). Opening hours will be from 1pm to 7pm, Tuesday to Sunday. The South Korea show is held in Brazil in partnership with the Korean Cultural Center in Brazil and curated by journalist Ana Cláudia Guimarães, arriving at the G20 Cultural Embassy after a successful season at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Niterói.
  

“Lights of Korea” invites the audience to dive into one of the most popular Korean cultural traditions from the immersive experience with site-specific installations. The millennia-old colored silk lanterns dialogue with contemporary scenic elements, transporting visitors to the famous city of Jinju, which since the 1600s has hosted one of the most traditional cultural festivals in the country. Cheul Hong Kim, director of the Korean Cultural Center, celebrates the holding of this special edition of the exhibition in Ipanema.  

– I am very happy to have the opportunity to present the beauty of Jinju silk lanterns at Casa G20, which is an international cultural exchange space developed for the G20, to be held in November in Rio de Janeiro. I hope this space will promote a rich communication between countries through culture – he emphasized. 

The G20 House gallery will be occupied by 700 original silk lanterns from Jinju City. At the end of the tunnels, the audience finds a huge 3D moon, as well as installations, photos and videos of the city and the Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival, showing the unity between tradition and contemporaneity. In addition to the lanterns, hanboks - typical Korean silk costumes worn by women at specific weddings and celebrations - will be on display. 

The tradition of silk lanterns began in the 16th century, when they came to be used as a means of military tactics and means of communication. The origin dates back to the 1st Battle of Jinjuseong Fortress during the Imjin War, between 3,800 soldiers of the Suseong Army (Korea), who protected the castle, and 20,000 Japanese soldiers. The Korean soldiers used the lantern on the Namgang River on a dark night to spot the Japanese, preventing them from crossing the river. In addition to military tactics, lanterns were also used to send messages to family members outside the fortress. Later, the population of Jinju City began throwing lanterns into the Namgang River to honor the souls of the soldiers who sacrificed themselves, as a symbol of resistance. 

 
Casa G20, the Cultural Embassy

The Secretary of Culture and Creative Economy of the State, Danielle Barros pointed out this is the first time that an official structure has been developed with a specific focus on Cultural Diplomacy in the history of the G20 meetings. 

"This is an initiative to expand the horizons and perspectives of our project to internationalize the arts of Rio de Janeiro," she said. 

Paulo Feitosa, general director of the Cultural Embassy Project, points out that, by November, Casa G20 will receive more than 50 programs in performing arts, literature, cinema, gastronomy, music, visual arts and other languages in coordination with embassies and consulates. 

Casa G20 /Cultural Embassy is sponsored by Enel Brasil and the Government of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Secretary of State for Culture and Creative Economy, through the Culture Incentive Law. The project is carried out by Quitanda Soluções Criativas and Instituto BR, with institutional support from FUNARJ, the Secretary of State for Environment and Sustainability and the Undersecretary of International Affairs.