Kyong Park

Kyong Park is a Professor in the Department of Visual Arts at the University of California, San Diego, within the Division of Arts and Humanities. His practice spans visual arts, architecture, theory, and curatorial work, focusing on public culture and the socio-political dimensions of urban landscapes.

His research explores how economic, political, and cultural forces shape contemporary cities through interdisciplinary methods involving text, photography, video, installation, and new media. Park views art as a process of inquiry and communication rather than commodity, rooted in activism and public engagement.

Notable projects include founding StoreFront for Art and Architecture in New York (1982–1998), directing the International Center for Urban Ecology in Detroit, co-curating Shrinking Cities in Berlin, and leading the Lost Highway Expedition across ex-Yugoslavia. His current focus is on the 'New Silk Roads' project, examining relational urban dynamics between Istanbul and Tokyo.

Scientific Awards:

• Loeb Fellow at Harvard University (1996/97)

Leadership and Grants: Park has led major international artistic and research initiatives, often in collaboration with universities, activists, and community organizations. He served as Artistic Director of the Anyang Public Art Project 2010, commissioning 23 international artists, and edited the book Urban Ecology: Detroit and Beyond (2005), featuring contributions from 32 experts.

Labs and Teams: He founded Centrala Foundation for Future Cities in Rotterdam and initiated collaborative expeditions involving hundreds of participants, fostering interdisciplinary teams across art, architecture, and urbanism.