▲ Museo Aero Solar, Courtesy of the Leeum Museum

Seoul, June 25, 2024 (Reuters) - Leeum Museum of Art is set to host "Museo Aero Solar" as part of its public program 'Idea Museum', running from June 25 to September 29, 2024. This innovative project, known as "Museo Aero Solar," invites the community to engage in creating a floating museum powered by solar energy, crafted entirely from recycled plastic bags.

The initiative transforms discarded plastic bags into a monumental art installation, symbolizing a "museum flying through the air." Participants are encouraged to contribute by attaching and decorating these bags with drawings and messages that reflect personal concerns about the environment. This collective effort aims to redefine solidarity amidst global climate challenges.

Originating in 2007, Museo Aero Solar has undertaken 78 projects worldwide, spanning countries like Argentina, Canada, Australia, Cuba, Denmark, Egypt, and Thailand. The upcoming project marks its 79th endeavor and the first in South Korea.

▲ Photo. Museo Aero Solar at Territoria 4. Il grande balzo/The Great Leap with Museo Pecci, Prato and province, Italy, 2009. Photography by Janis Elko. (left) / Museo Aero Solar at Becoming Aerosolar, 21er Haus, Vienna, Austria, 2015. Photography by Studio Tomás Saraceno. (right). Courtesy Aerocene. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.Individuals can participate by following instructions available on the Aerocene website to create their own Museo Aero Solar. Over 50 communities across 30 countries have already contributed hundreds of thousands of plastic bags, each carrying personal stories and connections.

To take part, residents are encouraged to drop off their used plastic bags at various collection points across Seoul from June 25 to August 4, 2024. Following collection, workshops on patchwork and drawing will be held from August 10 to August 23, 2024, where the bags will be transformed into a colorful canvas adorned with environmental messages.

The culmination of the project will be the installation and public viewing of the Museo Aero Solar sculpture at Leeum Museum's M2 building from September 2 to September 29, 2024. Visitors can explore both the inside and outside of this unique creation, engaging in discussions about environmental preservation and our interconnected ecosystems.

For more information and workshop reservations, please visit Leeum Museum's official website.

Sayart / Maria Kim, sayart2022@gmail.com