Song of the Wind is a socially collaborative art project that places emphasis on inclusive art practices. It takes place at Yaksan-myeon, Wando-gun, Jeollanam-do, and aims to record and collect all the project processes from May 2022 to November 2023.

By foregrounding the diverse social functions of art, the project Song of the Wind aims to represent a new paradigm of artistic practice. Song of the Wind is the public platform and is conceived as a Third Place that facilitates the sharing of the processes and outcomes of the art project, whilst working towards sustainable solidarity or cooperation, especially in aiming to incorporate an economy of social benefit.[1] The place of this project is Yaksan-myeon, Wando-gun, Jeollanam-do, a small island that is not well known among the islands of Jeollanam-do.[2] It captures several lifetimes in Jeollanam-do, handing down the wisdom of life to the following generation, preserving the healthy ecosystems of the land and sea, respecting diversity, conserving cultural inheritances, and imagining the future ecology of our shared future. In other words, our project hopes to extend the cultural spectrum of Jeollanam-do and seek symbiosis through artistic approaches that link people and gather their wisdom. Here, the meaning of the “artistic approach” is not an approach for art creation but rather a way for people to gather together, feel joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure, and “find a way to coexist and symbiosis.” Ultimately, it points to the minimum ethical responsibilities essential to the cohabitation of nature and humans in relation to UN Sustainable Development, for example, in environmental matters, the connection of land and sea, gender equality, migrant workers’ issues, sustainable cities, and communities, and more.

Song of the Wind has three main elements: First, a socially collaborative art project related to marine ecology that involves the efforts of artists, architects, and local people to improve the town together. Second, the ambition to establish an economy of social benefit relates to the livelihood issues of artists and local communities, and it employs the artist’s labor as a problem-solving strategy. Third, as a collaborative education project of civil society, the project aims to share wisdom and to devise sustainable ways to overcome ecological crises and present a new paradigm of artistic practice.

Yaksan-do is an island located in the northeast sea of Wando-gun, Jeollanam-do, and belongs to “myeon” as an administrative unit. Yaksan-myeon is one of the 12 islands in Wando-gun, located in the southernmost part of Jeollanam-do.

The area of Yaksan-myeon​​ is 28.74 ㎦, which is 7.5% of Wando-gun. As of March 2022, the population of Yaksan-myeon is 2,246.

Yaksan-do was linked to Gogeum-do through the Yaksan Bridge in 1999. And in 2007, Gogeum-do was connected to Gangjin-gun, Jeollanam-do through Gogeum Bridge, and Yaksan-do was connected to the land. (However, as administrative districts, Gogeum-do and Yaksan-do were Wando-gun, not Gangjin-gun.) Meanwhile, Gogeum-do is linked to Sinji-do through the Jangbogodaegyo Bridge, and Sinji-do is connected to Wando-gun via the Sinji Bridge. Geumil-do and Saengil-do are connected by passenger ferry from Dangmok harbor in Yaksan-myeon.

Yaksan-myeon consists of the main island, Joyakdo (formerly the name of Yaksan-do), and four uninhabited islands. In the center of Yaksan-myeon is Mt. Sammun, which is 399m high.

It has been called “Yaksan” because many medicinal herbs, such as Samjiguyeopcho (the name of the herb that grows in this area), have grown naturally since the old days. Black goats raised on the island’s herbs are also well-known as a specialty of Yaksan-myeon.

Gasa Beach is the only beach on Yaksan-do (island). Camellia, spruce, and chestnut trees around the coast in a circle.

Wando-gun’s representative specialty products, including Yaksan-myeon, include abalone, seaweed, and kelp.

+ Social and Solidarity Economy Program

Jimin Kim
Chiho Park