SALT: A New Gallery of Art, Experimental Music, and Culture
Photos courtesy of Johan Ahn, SALT Art Gallery curator
“The name SALT, it’s a reminder for myself. I don’t want anything bland.”
Gwangju native Johan Ahn is the curator of SALT, a new art gallery that opened in September 2014 on a quiet residential street across from Gyerim-dong’s Gwangju High School.
“I was born here in Gwangju. Gyerim-dong is my neighborhood from childhood. I went to Gyerim Elementary.”
At age 8, Ahn moved with his family to Belgium where he spent seventeen years and studied advertising, as well as music theory and piano at an academy. He moved back to Korea eight years ago and after a few years settling back in his hometown, he went to Seoul for a four-year stint where he worked as a composer and experimental musician within the creative community at Hongdae’s expression gallery Yogiga. By chance, an opportunity opened for curating a gallery in Gwangju.
“The owner of the space was looking for someone to do the whole thing – design, opening, directing, finding artists,” Ahn said. “If it was in Busan or Daejeon, I wouldn’t have done it but… I know Gwangju. I came back to Korea, I lived here four years before going to Seoul. It’s more like coming back.”
Ahn built SALT from the ground up, with the first floor reserved for art exhibits, performance art and music and a developing basement space for more open and experimental work. “I might even be welcoming rock bands,” Ahn said.
Since its opening, SALT has hosted events as varied as a breast milk painting project by Venus Lukic, a 30-min experimental video installation by Artem Ivanov and a Valentine’s Day performance by Gwangju jazz band Wanshin Park Trio with guest vocalist Chaehee Lim and vibraphonist John Bell.
Ahn says he remains open to any new creative ideas thrown his way.
“The art scene in Gwangju is new for me and I moved here to learn, to do something together. Even the operation of a gallery is new for me. I learned from gallery directors in Seoul, just hanging with them. At the beginning, it’s going to be really organic and learning on-the-spot. That’s why I’m open to new artists and non-professional artists. Maybe in the future, in a few years, I may have a more strict vision of control but for now it’s really open.”
One project that Ahn wants to set up is a regular monthly open mic for experimental musicians and performance artists which he says would be “open to even non-professional artists who just want to express something: poetry, scream, dance.”
Since SALT gallery is not only a new concept but in a lesser-known neighborhood than downtown Gwangju, Ahn will work hard to stand out.
“I want something fun. Try to provoke a little. If I can, differentiate myself from other galleries, something modern and a little provocative. I wouldn’t mind if this place becomes a good place for people to hang out around culture and art instead of around loud music and drinks. That’s good too, but it’s a different style.”
In particular, because of his diverse background, Ahn says he is committed to collaborating with international residents.
“If there must be a vision, it’s working with the foreign community in Gwangju. I think it might be easier for me to work with foreigners even though I’m going to work with Koreans too.”
Salt Art Gallery
동구 계림동 578-10
578-10 Gyerim-dong, Dong-gu, Gwangju
Across from Gwangju High School
Monday-Saturday: 1p.m. – 9 p.m.
Closed on Sunday
062-415-0750
06,39,54,87,98,151,180,184,419, or 518 get off at Gwangju High School (광주고) bus stop