Venue

As one of the first hospitals established in Gangneung during the Japanese colonial era, Hahm’s Surgical Clinic was built to provide medical services to Gangwon-do, which lacked adequate healthcare at the time. This clinic was founded by Dr. Hahm Taewon, who is widely regarded as having made significant contributions to the medical and educational development of Gangneung. His dedication extended to the broader medical community of Gangwon-do, leading him to improve regional healthcare environments as a founding member of the Gangwon State Medical Association. Hahm’s Surgical Clinic was more than just a clinic; it became recognized as a historic site that significantly contributed to the health and welfare of communities in Gangneung and Gangwon-do. Later, the clinic was acquired by the city of Gangneung as part of a sustainable urban regeneration project, and it is now used as one of the venues for the Gangneung International Art Festival 2025(GIAF25).​
This exhibition explores various facets of “healing” from the perspective of contemporary art, inspired by the clinic’s historic role. A clinic has traditionally served as a vital space for physical and mental healthcare, and this role has been interpreted in different ways: by doctors from an academic perspective, by hereditary shamans from a traditional perspective, and by artists from an artistic perspective. The exhibition reimagines these layered meanings of “healing” in an artistic way, redefining the Former Hahm’s Surgical Clinic as a place for healing in contemporary society. It symbolically illustrates how this space continues to inspire healing in the modern world, connecting the past and the present through artistic expression.
 
Leehaiminsun 
Kiwalim