[Edaily Reporter KIM AH-REUM ] An exhibition titled “From Commemoration to Landscape” is opening, highlighting the history of artistic exchange between Korea and France and the development of public sculptures, centered on the Olympic Sculpture Park, which was created in conjunction with the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

KCC Corporation(002380)The KCC announced on the 21st that it had provided 23 colors of paint to support the creation of a new work by artist Park Mi-na, who is participating in the Soma Museum of Art’s special exhibition “From Commemoration to Landscape,” marking the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and France. This exhibition focuses on architect Kim Jung-up’s “Gate of World Peace” and artist Baek Geum-nam’s “Four Symbols,” which depict the Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, White Tiger, and Black Tortoise, offering a fresh interpretation of historical public art from a contemporary artistic perspective. Artist Park Mi-na, for whom KCC Corporation provided the paint, drew inspiration from the colors in the “Four Symbols” painting—excluding the Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, White Tiger, and Black Tortoise—for her work in this exhibition. She presented a work that reinterprets the colors of the Four Symbols from a contemporary art perspective by naturally connecting 23 colors like a spectrum on a “D”-shaped partition wall within the exhibition hall.

This support stemmed from the “Gate of World Peace” restoration and repainting project, in which KCC Corporation participated alongside its distributors to provide paint supplies and technical support. Following the work to reproduce the colors of this public sculpture, KCC Corporation is now supporting the creation of a new artwork inspired by the colors recreated during that project. In fact, last year, KCC Corporation worked with its dealers to ensure the smooth progress of the restoration and repainting project for the “Gate of World Peace Four Symbols,” which was built 38 years ago, by providing color matching, painting technical support, and paint supplies. A total of 40 paint colors were applied during that project, and the colors—estimated based on historical photographs and related materials—were reproduced using the AI color-matching system “KCC Smart 2.0.” In addition, KCC Corporation supported the restoration work by providing technical consulting on surface treatment tailored to the condition of the existing paint film, ensuring adhesion, and selecting the appropriate coatings.

This special exhibition features works by artist Park Mi-na, supported by KCC Corporation, along with an archive showcasing the process and related materials from the restoration and repainting projects for the “Gate of World Peace” and the “Four Guardian Deities.” It is significant in that visitors can explore not only the completed forms of these public sculptures but also the materials, technologies, and on-site efforts required to maintain and preserve their original colors.

Kim Gwang-ju, Executive Vice President and Head of KCC Corporation’s Coatings Distribution Business Division, stated, “Following our participation last year in the process of reproducing the colors of the ‘Four Guardian Deities,’ it is deeply meaningful to be part of expanding those colors into a new work of art this year.” He added, “Moving forward, based on the coating technology and color expertise KCC Corporation has accumulated, we will continue to support diverse creative activities in the fields of culture and the arts and contribute to upholding the value of public art.”