Opening Remarks
Opening Ceremony of < Intense Difference of Its Own > Exhibition

June 29, 2023. KF Gallery

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen,
I’m Gheewhan Kim, President of Korea Foundation.

It is a real pleasure and honor to open an exhibition on "Intense Difference of Its Own," that commemorates the 60th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Korea and Canada.

I want to say my sincere greetings to Amb. H.E. Tamara MAWHINNEY, Mr. Victor Lee, Representative of Alberta Govermment Office in Korea, Mr. Jung-Suk Ryu, President and CEO of National accessArts Centre in Canada, and to distinguished participants today.

Over the past 60 years, Korea and Canada have made a long and worthwhile journey together. Based on the common values of freedom, human rights, democracy, rule of law, and respect for diversity, two countries have always stood on the right side of history together. From arts and culture, cuisine, natural beauty to science and technology, we have benefited a lot through a variety of exchanges between two countries.

Today, we are opening a new exhibition on diversity and openness of artistic s. We are bringing "intense individual differences" to the exhibition, through the lens of disability arts. The talented artists with disabilities are drawing their own perspectives and demonstrating their conversations and engagements with different places, and other people.

Paying homage to the late artist Won Lee, who lived with the effects of childhood polio, this exhibition adheres to his belief that artwork must be alive and suggest other worlds.

Also, we will be showing Artist Pixel Hyun-woo Kim and his new artwork "Aurora Math Drawing" for the first time at KF Gallery. Artists from the National accessArts Centre of Canada, including Brian Ehnis and Carol Harris here, will also share their unique experiences of overcoming obstacles through painting, drawing, and music as well.

The exhibition today is also showing the artistic exchanges between the National accessArts Centre and from Gangnam Welfare Center.

I want to say my sincere congratulations to all artists, organizers, and collaborators involved in curating this exceptional exhibition, on their truly commendable work. I hope the exhibition continues to inspire and engage the audience on “disability arts”.

Thank you.