Urban Island — premiere at Culture Station Seoul 284
On September 12, 2012, URBAN ISLAND premiered as part of the group exhibition LIFE: A User’s Manual at CULTURE STATION SEOUL 284. The exhibition opened at 5 pm and ran until November 4. The film was developed together with Namhui Park and uses music by SIGUR RÓS.
The exhibition context
Culture Station Seoul 284 is located in the former Seoul Station building, which was reopened as a cultural space in 2011. Since then, it has hosted exhibitions, performances, and public programs. The building connects historical architecture with contemporary cultural use, making it a fitting setting for projects that address social realities.
Urban Island
URBAN ISLAND is a short documentary built around the song Varúð by Sigur Rós. The film follows the daily life of a homeless man in Seoul. Rather than explaining his situation, the film observes how he moves through public space and how society responds to his presence.
A small park near Yongsan Station plays an important role in the film. For people living on the street, it functions as a place of rest and refuge. At the same time, it marks a boundary where inclusion and exclusion become visible.
Collaboration and roles
I worked on Urban Island together with Namhui Park as co-director. In addition, I took on cinematography, editing, and color grading during post-production. We approached the project with restraint, focusing on observation rather than commentary.
The film premiered at Culture Station Seoul 284 and later received the First Prize Audience Award at the 7th Premiers Courts International Film Festival in 2012. It was also shortlisted for the 2013 Film Grant Award by Manuel Rivera-Ortiz Foundation.
Music and atmosphere
The music by Sigur Rós plays a central role in shaping the film’s tone. Its slow pace and layered sound support the images without directing interpretation. Instead, the music creates space for reflection and emotional distance.
Place and meaning
The choice of venue added another layer to the project. Culture Station Seoul 284 carries its own history as a site of movement, arrival, and departure. Presenting the film there placed the story within a broader context of transition and displacement.
An invitation to observe
Urban Island does not offer solutions or conclusions. It invites viewers to look closely and to reconsider how public space is shared. The premiere marked the beginning of that conversation, using film, music, and place to open a quiet dialogue about life at the margins of the city.
