Seomjinggang Interntional Experimental Arts Festvial

The Seomjingang International Experimental Arts Festival is an international experimental arts festival staged in the nature and living spaces of Gokseong, Jeonnam — the Seomjingang and Daehwanggang rivers, its forests, rice fields and gardens. The main programs comprise an archive exhibition, the SIEAF colloquium, a rice-paddy fashion show, the opening program 'WITH Dokkaebi & Toad', a movement healing workshop, an Oxygen Concert and a flower parade. The SIEAF archive exhibition is a concept show using records from the 2025 festival and rural objects, a priming program for meeting SIEAF 2026 together with local residents. The SIEAF colloquium is a discussion program at the Bitmaru Center with presentations and debate on the history and legends of the Seomjingang, the role of rural community leaders and building a glocal rural culture through art. The Gokseong Cultural Center, researchers and activists working on rural issues and arts figures take part in an informal discussion on the mutual flourishing of a rural utopia and an art utopia. The rice-paddy fashion show is a rural-friendly program using the paddy banks as a stage in the season when the rice ripens. It presents costumes made from natural materials and inspired by local produce, with a fashion show and performances involving residents, children, senior models, artists and local culture and arts groups. The opening program 'WITH Dokkaebi & Toad' is a performance program at Amnok Recreation Area, where the Seomjingang and Daehwanggang meet. Drawing on the dokkaebi goblin legends passed down in Gokseong and the image of the toad, it presents life rites, dokkaebi rites, media art, world music, dance, butoh, gugak, percussion, vocal music, installation art and drone performances. Dokkaebi rice gathered through residents' participation is made into liquor and rice cakes and shared among artists, residents and visitors, leading into a contemporary ritual performance giving thanks for the harvest and praying for the community's wellbeing. The Oxygen Concert and the movement healing workshop are concerts of meditation and healing held in the old forest at Okgwa. The movement healing workshop comprises opening the body, attending to the body, movement in contact with nature, movement to find one's own rhythm and dances of connection. The Oxygen Concert combines the natural acoustics of the forest with acoustic playing, singing bowls, vocal music, bara dance, performance art, meditation and installation art in programs oriented toward natural ecology, making time to resonate as part of nature. The flower parade is an art parade program at the Seomjingang Fairytale Garden in which artists, residents, local clubs and visitors all take part. Along with a procession and performances using costumes and props, there are hands-on programs and workshops built around flowers, with installation art, music, dance, juggling, harmonica and singing bowls welcoming visitors.