A landmark disability arts exhibition celebrating the 2024–2025 Korea–Canada Year of Cultural Exchanges has successfully concluded its three-city tour across Canada and is now captivating audiences in Seoul, marking a significant step in building sustainable cultural ties between the two nations.
Exhibition Builds Bridges Through Accessible Art
The exhibition, titled Korea×Canada Disability Arts: Expanding Boundaries and Possibilities, features ten leading artists with disabilities from both countries. Following its successful presentations in Canadian cities, the showcase opened at Modu Art Space in Seoul on November 5, where it will run until December 4.
This initiative is more than a simple art display; it represents a profound dialogue. Over approximately two weeks, the participating artists engaged in exhibitions, talks, and workshops, fostering an exchange of perspectives that affirms the values of inclusion and creativity.
The exhibition is notably accessible, incorporating features like poster audio descriptions, Braille texts, and easy-to-read guides. This deliberate design dismantles barriers between people with and without disabilities, creating a viewing environment truly open to all.
A Two-Year Cultural Journey Culminates
This arts exchange is a cornerstone of the broader 2024–2025 Korea–Canada Year of Cultural Exchanges. Supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea and Canadian Heritage, the program has provided a practical platform for bilateral cooperation.
The collaboration is co-organized by the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE), the Korea Disability Arts & Culture Center (KDAC), and Canada's National accessArts Centre (NaAC), with additional support from the Canada Council for the Arts and the Embassy of Canada to the Republic of Korea.
Park Chang-sik, President of KOFICE, reflected on the initiative's success, stating it has been a meaningful period for gaining a deeper understanding of each other's cultures while opening new avenues for collaboration grounded in diversity and inclusion.
Artist Voices Highlight Collaboration's Power
The impact of this international exchange resonated deeply with the participating artists. Korean artist Ryu Dayoung expressed honor in communicating on an international stage, underscoring the spirit of collaboration.
Echoing this sentiment, Canadian artist Laurie M. Landry emphasized that the exchange transcended a simple exhibition, becoming a dialogue through art between the two countries where art itself knows no language barrier.
Building on the experience gained during the Canadian tour, the Seoul presentation meets Korean audiences with an expanded scale and deeper content, solidifying the gains from this two-year cultural journey and establishing a foundation for ongoing artistic collaboration.
