Tribune News Network
Doha
Qatar Foundation has revealed its latest public art installation, Come Together, by Korean artist and designer Choi Jeong Hwa. Standing 12 meters tall, the piece in Education City has been created in honour of the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Question: How does Come Together commemorate the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022?
Choi Jeong Hwa: The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is a football festival which has come into fruition because of the collaborative efforts of many people. The art installation Come Together acknowledges all those who have helped in the preparations of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, and the process of creating it is a gesture of gratitude for the thousands of workers and volunteers working behind the scenes.
Question: Can you give us a brief background on your journey as an artist?
Choi Jeong Hwa: The way I work is to be open minded and to listen to the possibilities of art. Although I studied art at university, I don’t use what I learned there within my practice – I learned by going out into the streets and spending time with strangers. I look for more unconventional tools that are found in the houses, and in the streets and markets, such as bowls and other common objects we use in our daily life. And as they are assembled in different ways to make an art piece, they are given a new life and meaning.
Among my works, the Holobiont series and the Happy Together series are based on the idea of coexistence, moving from an individual tree to a forest. People attending the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will gather in front of Come Together and become a forest. They will then return to their countries with an open heart and become a forest again.
Question: How has the concept of dandelion influenced the Come Together installation? How did the association with QF and the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 start?
Choi Jeong Hwa: The dandelion is a type of weed. But in reality, it is beautiful – when we blow on it the seeds fly everywhere. It’s fluid in motion. In Korea, the dandelion is also called the "flower of the people”. Dandelion is a sculpture I created made of 7,000 pieces of kitchenware donated by members of the public from several cities throughout South Korea. It was installed at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea.
At that time, there was a sensational response – and not only from those in the art world, but also from the general public. Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, recognised the philosophy of the dandelion. It was through this I was able to establish a relationship with QF and the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Question: What was the inspiration behind the materials or objects used in the sculpture? Is there any recycled material in this installation?
Choi Jeong Hwa: Art is something to become, not to be made. Therefore, I can say that materials inspire me. A lot of my work is made of discarded plastic items. Besides plastic, I use abandoned bowls made of various recycled materials, such as stainless steel, rubber, and nickel-silver. Many people see these and think of environmental issues, like extinction. But others see beyond that. They see them as metaphor about life and living beyond environmental or social issues.
Question: What is the purpose behind the workers’ helmets in the art piece?
Choi Jeong Hwa: Come Together is made up of different objects and materials that represent the men who helped build the stadiums for the tournament. It is a symbol of appreciation for their efforts and is intended to ensure their role is recognised in a prominent and lasting way, because the World Cup could not have been possible without them. Including workers’ helmets in the design also reflects how Qatar, and QF, are working to leave a legacy for workers in the region.
Question: Besides the art piece being commissioned for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, why else is the art piece unique to Qatar?
People call dandelions a type of weed, but in fact they are a precious plant that bloom in barren environments. It is incredible that the world’s premier sporting event, the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, is being hosted in the desert. It is due to the strength, resilience, and bold imagination of those that stood up to adversity that made this possible. Just as the dandelion seeds are blown away by the wind and blooms, the message of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, which prays for peace and prosperity for mankind, will spread from here to the world.
I hope that through Come Together the audience see and feel how people from all over the world – from Africa, Asia, Europe, America, and Oceania, and all living things on Earth, and even non-living things, all beings created by God – are connected to each other.
Question: Any words of advice to young artists today?
Choi Jeong Hwa: Today, with the digital world, everyone is an artist.
I recently visited a classroom of students at QF during an art lesson, and I saw the work of young and amateur artists. I’d rather get advice from young people – they are much better than me. Art is about learning something new. Who should learn from whom? Art is not only learned in academics. The world is a school - let’s meet and work together.