Looking South

26.Oct.2012

 

INAUGURATION OF "GREETINGMAN"

On Wednesday the "Greetingman" sculpture was inaugurated in the Rambla of Montevideo. The work of art was carried out by South Korean artist Young - ho Yoo, who donated it to pour country, located geographically opposite ours. 

 

Minister Ricardo Ehrlich and Mayor of Montevideo, Ana Olivera,  participated on Wednesday in the inauguration of a sculpture donated by the Republic of Korea, called Greetingman. 

The work of art was installed in Juan Espinosa and Juana Pereyra, in front of the Rambla in Buceo, a site that from now on will be known as Montevideo Plaza Korea, and it represents a six meter bowing human figure 

The greeting – main meaning behind the donated sculpture- is a gesture which represents encounters, respect, homage, amazement, reconciliation and peace. According to the Embassy of South Korean Greetingman transmits the depth of the Korean greeting. It also highlights the meaning of peace and reconciliation, going beyond the limits imposed by the different cultures and racial origins, 

The artist thanked all those that were interested in the idea and “participated with great sacrifice in the installation”. Yoo claims that this “man” came to Uruguay “to share the meaning of the greeting, the most powerful of all communication resources”. 

The South Korean ambassador, Choi Yeon-choong, explained that when the artist explained his idea of moving the work of art to the country which was the farthest away from South Korea, “it didn’t seem easy”, however, “we overcame the obstacles and we’re here now!”. To keep strengthening the exchange between Korean and Uruguay. 

Ana Olivera considered it “an honour” for Montevideo to have been chosen as the first city to start the Project. She pointed out the effort carried out for almost a year and a half to get the statue where it is, also pointing out that the transference of the statue as well as all expenses related to the installation had been taken care of by the South Korean government. 

From the South Korean embassy,, it was informed that the “Greetingman” installed in Montevideo is the first one that the artist donated to a foreign country. In the future, there will be 5 statues such as this one situated in other countries.