The Korean Nature Artists' Association 'YATOO(野投)' is an art organization which was founded in 1981, and has developed as a field-oriented nature art movement
focusing on free expressions with installation, drawing, and performance. It is an art organization which has clear history and identity with the view of nature that we should comply with the order of nature and try to harmonize with it, and it has tried to express such a view through various means of modern fine art.
The Geumgang Nature Art Biennale is an important event of the YATOO nature art movement with the history of 40 years. The biennale is a global project from Korean and foreign nature artists, and the forms and contents of biennale have become increasingly meaningful over time.
The Nature Art Cube Exhibition ‘12×12×12+Nature’ of the 2020 Geumgang Nature Art Biennale, which took place at the Geumgang Natural Art Center in Gongju, Korea from June to August 9, contains the artist's individual thoughts and various expressions about nature in 12-centimeter cubes. The Nature Art Cube exhibition, which has been held since 2017, is one of the nature art movement. 227 nature artists from 39 countries have participated in this exhibition and it's been becoming a place sharing artistic messages about nature with one another. In this exhibition, Cecile Hug, Do Delaunay, Isabelle Aubry, Joel Thepault, Julien Masson, Patrick Demazeau, Pierre Guilloteau, total 7 French artists have participated.
Environmental pollution, ecological disturbance, abnormal climate and global warming we are experiencing now are the global issue all the humans in the world should face and find solutions. Plus, rapid development of digital culture makes people become more isolated from one another and difficult to communicate with one another.
In this context, this Nature Art Cube Exhibition ‘12×12×12+Nature’ displaying unique concepts, materials, expressive methods and visual messages of artists participating the exhibition will be a chance we are reminded of the meaning of 'nature' we always enjoy the benefits of, but easily forget preciousness of. It will be the space of reflection where we can communicate with each other and share our thinking through a special theme called 'nature art'.
The Geumgang Nature Art Biennale is an international Nature Art exhibition planned by Yatoo, the Korean Nature Artists' Association firstly established in 1981. Yatoo spreads Nature Art around Gongju in Chungcheongnam-do province. Based on Yatoo’s experience of organizing and hosting international nature art events since the early 1990s, the first Biennale was held in 2004, supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Chungcheongnam-do and Gongju City. Throughout three weeks the artists from all over the world live together and create their artworks. There are introductive sessions for nature art projects around the world, International Nature Art Seminar and other programs that children and citizens can participate during the biennale. The artworks of the artists are exhibited at Yeonmisan Nature Art Park, Geumgang Ssangshin Park and the visitors can observe how they interact with the natural context.
Yatoo - Yatoo is the name of the Korean Nature Artists’ Association that studies Nature Art. The meaning of the word Yatoo is to ‘throw in the field’; the word ‘野(Ya)’ means the field or nature, the word ‘投(Too)’ means to throw, or to express.
Nature Art - Nature Art is pursued by Yatoo since the early 1980s. Nature Art can be expressed by installation works to simple compositions created on the natural context. Through nature art, nature is not merely the target of expression but the new artistic medium that nature itself acts directly in art. It is Yatoo’s expressional method that contains Korean views bout nature that have always lived in harmony with nature.
Nature Art Park - The Nature Art Park is an alternative kind of sculpture park, where specifically Yatoo’s art is practiced. It is completely created by the Geumgang Nature Art Biennale. The lifecycle of the artworks created and installed in the park is constantly changed by the effects of nature and the passage of time.
