On September 3, at Dalnuri Theater in Bupyeong Art Center, a festival took place with the goal of bringing people with and without disabilities together in harmony. Now in its 8^th year, the festival has established itself not merely as a performance festival but as an event that delivers deep emotions. This year, a total of nine teams performed, and we had the chance to sit down with two groups from the Bupyeong Comprehensive Welfare Center for the Disabled.

Reporter: Kim Hye-sook

Around the entrance of the venue, visitors were treated to a variety of attractions, including exhibitions of Hanji crafts and Bluebird Art paintings, hands-on experience booths, and souvenir giveaways, offering plenty of opportunities for direct participation.

Around 10 works by Bluebird Art, an art club affiliated with the Bupyeong Comprehensive Welfare Center for the Disabled, and Hwajidan, a Hanji craft group, captivated the audience. The exhibited pieces were the result of long hours of dedication and passion, with the artists putting their utmost efforts into conveying the value of art.

Yang Kyung-hwa, who participated in the exhibition, said, “Born with polio, I have worked with various handicrafts in pursuit of my own path, but now I am captivated by the charms of Hanji and have been working with these crafts for 20 years.”

She continued, “With my skills, I also volunteer to teach people with disabilities, along with children and any acquaintances who wish to learn. Large works can take more than two years to complete, yet even after finishing them, I always feel a sense of incompleteness that drives me to get right back at it. The time spent in deep concentration is enjoyable, and that keeps me creating new pieces.”

Raon Duri is a saxophone ensemble made up of a mother, her son, and his uncle. Park Mi-kyung said, “My son, Ju-won, was born with an intellectual disability, but while he was in third grade, he began showing his musical talent. As I supported him through various events, such as percussion festivals and the Incheon Culture Festival, I learned to play the saxophone, and eventually we all joined up.”

Park added, “Ju-won’s instructor, Go Young-woon, praised him as an extraordinary student with outstanding musical sensitivity, noting that he can keep the rhythm precisely, even without sheet music. Although he has faced many challenges due to his intellectual disability, I sincerely hope he will one day become a professional performer.”

This year’s festival, which invited people with and without disabilities to come together on stage and to connect wholeheartedly with the audience, stood out as a true venue for harmony through art.