The Island Biennale Organizing Committee has officially announced the public art project "Memories of Islands," inviting residents of South Chungcheong Province (Chungnam) to directly participate in shaping a major artistic landmark ahead of the inaugural 2027 Island Biennale, which opens on April 3, 2027.

Running for 22 days from September 14 to October 5, this participatory open call aims to collect approximately 1,000 artworks and photographs capturing personal memories, daily lives, landscapes, and stories associated with Boryeong and the islands of the West Sea. By transforming these individual recollections into a collective public art installation, the initiative seeks to foster deep community engagement and co-create the foundational spirit of the upcoming biennale.

Participation is open to all residents of Chungnam, categorized into four distinct divisions: Early Childhood, Youth (Elementary, Middle, and High School), Adult, and Individuals with Disabilities. Entrants are encouraged to freely express their cherished memories of Chungnam's islands using various mediums, including drawings, calligraphy, and photographs.

Out of all submissions, the organizing committee will select approximately 1,000 works to be converted into ceramic tile artworks. These tiles will be permanently installed and exhibited on the outdoor walls of the Biennale Plaza at the "Island Culture and Art Platform"—the main exhibition venue of the Island Biennale scheduled for completion this coming December. Each selected tile will feature the participant's name or a designated alias, ensuring that the personal memories and contributions of the local community are permanently preserved.

Rather than functioning merely as an exterior wall, this upcoming tiled installation is envisioned as an open-air museum where individual memories converge into a unified masterpiece. It will serve as a vital public art space bridging the Island Biennale with the local community, symbolizing shared regional heritage and artistic expression.

Submissions can be submitted online or via mail, with both individual and group entries welcomed. The final selection results will be announced in December, and all selected participants will receive two admission tickets to the 2027 Island Biennale as a token of appreciation.

Ko Hyo-yeol, Secretary-General of the Organizing Committee, remarked that the lives and memories of individual residents will come together to build a magnificent outdoor art museum for the biennale. He added an earnest appeal for widespread interest and active participation so that the precious memories of local residents can endure as lasting works of art.

Detailed information regarding the competition guidelines and submission forms can be found on the official website of the Island Biennale Organizing Committee.

Scheduled as the nation’s first-ever international art event dedicated entirely to islands, the 2027 Island Biennale will take place across Wonsando and Godaedo in Boryeong, Chungnam, for approximately two months starting April 3, 2027. The event will showcase a diverse array of contemporary artworks by roughly 70 artists hailing from 24 countries.

Expanding Horizons: The Significance of the 2027 Island Biennale and Regional Revitalization

To fully appreciate the scope of the "Memories of Islands" project, it is essential to look at the broader framework of the 2027 Island Biennale. As South Korea's premier international art festival focused exclusively on island ecosystems, cultures, and identities, the biennale represents a strategic cultural milestone for Chungnam Province. Islands like Wonsando and Godaedo are not merely geographic locations; they are repositories of maritime history, ecological diversity, and unique human narratives that have shaped the West Sea's cultural tapestry.

By anchoring the main venue—the Island Culture and Art Platform—in Boryeong, the organizing committee is intentionally decentralizing cultural infrastructure, bringing world-class contemporary art out of metropolitan centers and directly into coastal communities. The inclusion of local residents through the "Memories of Islands" project ensures that the biennale is not an imposed, top-down cultural event, but an organic celebration rooted in the lived experiences of the people who call these coastal regions home.

Furthermore, public art projects of this scale play a critical role in place-making and regional regeneration. Permanent outdoor installations, such as the 1,000-tile mural wall, transform everyday municipal infrastructure into cultural tourism destinations. Visitors traveling to Boryeong for the 2027 Biennale will encounter authentic human stories etched into the very architecture of the venue before even stepping into the primary galleries. This creates an immediate emotional connection between the audience, the local residents, and the natural landscape of the West Sea.

As preparations continue to unfold toward the April 2027 opening, initiatives like "Memories of Islands" demonstrate how contemporary art can serve as a powerful bridge between local identity and global artistic discourse. Through the collective contributions of thousands of Chungnam residents, the inaugural Island Biennale is poised to redefine how regional communities participate in and shape international cultural phenomena.

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