Venue

Crossing the Namdaecheon Stream in Gangneung, Changpo Bridge serves as both a central passage and a key venue during the Gangneung Danoje Festival. Designated as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage, the Danoje Festival draws countless visitors each year and has firmly established itself as one of the region’s most iconic traditional festivals. As a physical and symbolic connector between festival grounds, Changpo Bridge has long played a vital role in sustaining the energy and flow of the Festival. Directly connected to the main Danoje market, the bridge becomes a focal point of movement and gathering—an entryway to the experience and an architectural backbone guiding the rhythm of the festival.

The name “Changpo” reflects the bridge’s traditional significance. Changpo (sweet flag) is a plant historically believed to ward off evil spirits and promote health and well-being, making it an important symbol in Danoje Festival and folk customs. Rooted in this symbolism, it was named “Changpo Bridge”. For generations, the bridge and its surrounding area have hosted key ceremonies and events of the Danoje Festival, embodying its enduring spirit.

Layered upon this rich tradition, contemporary art now brings a new dimension to the bridge. For Gangneung International Art Festival 2025 (GIAF25), KIM JAE HYEON presented Floor Mapping on Changpo Bridge. Beginning at Gangneung Station and culminating on Changpo Bridge, her works marked both the starting point and the final stop of the festival’s journey— completing its path and narrative. Through this process, the bridge became a threshold where daily life and artistic imagination intersect.

Through GIAF 25, Changpo Bridge evolved beyond its identity as a symbolic structure of the Danoje Festival. As past and present, tradition and contemporary art converged, the bridge emerged as a newly defined cultural landmark— one that reshapes the artistic and cultural landscape of the city.

KIM JAE HYEON