Yangcheon-gu held an opening ceremony Thursday afternoon at Omok Park for the sixth edition of "Canvas of Time," an exhibition showcasing artworks created by elderly residents to capture their lives and memories.
"Canvas of Time" is a district-specific cultural arts program in which elderly residents work alongside local artists to express their memories and emotions through painting. Launched in 2021, the program supports participants' emotional well-being and social engagement while fostering communication with the broader community.
About 200 people attended the ceremony, including Yangcheon-gu District Mayor Lee Gi-jae and elderly participants and their families. The event opened with a fashion show by senior models, followed by introductions of participating artists, a video screening documenting the creative process and its outcomes, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Attendees celebrated the exhibition's opening by looking back together on the participants' artistic journeys.
This year's exhibition features 360 works completed by 92 elderly residents — the largest number of participants and submitted works in the program's history. Five welfare institutions in the district, the Yangcheon Cultural Foundation and the arts cooperative Yesulro collaborated on the program. The exhibition period has also been expanded from three days last year to five days this year to allow more residents to view the works.
The exhibition is organized into seven galleries, including "Youth in Bloom," capturing radiant memories from participants' younger years; "Middle-Age Sketches," depicting warm moments of life rendered in black and white; "Self-Portrait in Old Age," in which participants confront who they are today; and "Video Autobiography," presenting stories in moving-image form. Visitors can encounter the personal memories and experiences each elderly participant has carried through life.
The exhibition runs through Monday at Omok Park, open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Hands-on programs for visitors will also be available, including keyring making, self-portrait painting, knitting pet accessories and pouch making.
"The paintings our elderly residents have created offer comfort and inspiration to everyone who sees them," District Mayor Lee said. "I hope this exhibition becomes an opportunity to reflect on the preciousness of parents and family, and to help restore a sense of family community." Lee added that the district would continue to support elderly residents in pursuing vibrant later years through cultural and artistic activities and in expanding their opportunities for social participation.
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