Pinocchio is being a public sculpture

This is short speech I delivered when I was still in university as one of student majored in English Literature.

Pinocchio is being a public sculpture

 

All of a sudden Pinocchio, which is very familiar with us as a character of animation, appeared in the center of the city, Haeundae Centum in Busan. He is tall approximately 9.3 meters and weight 5.5 tones. Assuming it was a kind of structure, it might be three-story building. Pinocchio stud in a public square which is situated in front of the Kyungnam College of Information & Technology posed as if it goes somewhere else vigorously. The realistic and energetic elements of the statue makes passerby imagine where it will initiate.

* Jim Dine

As expected, the public sculpture’s title is regarded with the action it takes. It is called “Boy with a hope, Walking Forward.” The creator who built the Pinocchio is Jim Dine, not the Zepetto who cast a old carpenter grandfather for the story of Pinocchio. Renowned Jim Dine as a worldwide pop artist is famous for his various masterpieces on heart. He drew numerous version of pictures related to heart image. But these days his interest has changed into the character of Pinocchio. So he started to create his own style of Pinocchio which is never seen before. This huge Pinocchio set up in Korea has been made since June 2012 in United State. The work was processed separately due to the size of it. Each body parts such as arms, legs, head are cast respectively. After completing the work, They moved the parts of statue from United State to Korea. For 2 weeks, two manager who dispatched from ‘Jim Dine studio’ managed to install and unite each parts to get together. And finally it has been built in Busan, Korea’s second largest city on May 30, 2013. This Pinocchio is established the most biggest Pinocchio sculpture among Jim Dine’s collections.

 

The place where the Pinocchio stands up now was an empty & vacant place literally. Only the skyscraper was there as it shows and bluffs itself that this district is developing and changing very quickly. So the street was too plain and bored for residents including my family living nearby. However all of a sudden, the Pinocchio appeared. Even though its tall is shorter than other buildings, it is enough to catch people’s eyes with its own atmosphere. The statue is becoming popular more and more among my friends and youth. And now it is a common word & saying “Let’s meet at the square where the Pinocchio is!”

 

In my opinion, there are two reason why the Pinocchio became a public sculpture. First, it can be a good example for college students. As I said upward, it is situated in front of Kyungnam College of Information & Technology in Centum campus. Every students must have to face the sculpture to attend their class during semester. This means the Pinocchio reminds of them the story on how he growing and developing himself while keep tracking down adventures and the idea about lies that makes nose longer. If so this effects would affect their mind unconsciously every single day. And later, they are going to be more discreet and conscientious than usual especially treating with lies.

 

Secondly, it brings people nostalgia to the time when they were a child. Actually, the image and mood of Centum city is concrete & hard rather than soft & calm because of its highly raised building structures. However, this public sculpture alleviates the negative mood and builds up a warm environment. Furthermore, it gives opportunity to businessman who has a chaotic schedule between works to think about childhood and adolescent when they met a Pinocchio at the very first time in their life.

 

For applying the art knowledge we have learned during last class to this Pinocchio, this sculpture has both disposition of evocative and provocative simultaneously. As it is able to causing students to take action, it is provocative. Pinocchio is the symbol of adventure and experimental creation for students who read the story about his struggling to become a good man from a wooden puppet. School official also said through media  as below.

“This Pinocchio is a protagonist kept doing his best regardless of his weakness and hardness. So it will be a mentor and hope for our students.”

Besides, it is evocative as well. Because it brings out city dweller’s emotions and feelings about nostalgia with Pinocchio. Although the moment will be short, it might give a break time for them at least. In any way, as one of the citizen living near the Pinocchio statue, his appearance is very welcoming and hope this acts and moves setting up impressive and meaningful public sculptures will be flourishing all over the world.