Bucheon City of Literature

2023 City-to-City Exchange Residency

The City-to-City Exchange Residency is an international collaborative initiative that connects Bucheon with fellow UNESCO Cities of Literature through reciprocal writer residencies. As part of the program, Bucheon welcomed two graphic storytellers from Québec City, Canada, and Melbourne, Australia.
The residency provided dedicated time and space for the artists' creative work, alongside cultural programs designed to explore points of connection between Bucheon, Korea, and the artists' own creative practices and cultural backgrounds.
As one of Bucheon's representative international initiatives within the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN), the program supports the creative development of literary artists, encourages meaningful exchange between participating cities and writers, and promotes international collaboration and cultural dialogue.

Paul Bordeleau (Québec -> Bucheon)

<paul bordeleau>

Paul Bordeleau is a comic book author and illustrator. He is the creator of the comic book series Faune and Le 7e Vert, both published by La Pastèque. He has also published graphic adaptations of Fabien Cloutier's play Pour réussir un poulet and Nicola-Frank Vachon's Hypo.
He is one of the three artists at La Shop à Bulles, a comics workshop based at La Maison de la littérature in Old Québec.

Rachel Ang (Melbourne -> Bucheon)

<Rachel Ang>

Rachel Ang is a writer and comics artist from Melbourne. Their work has been published in international journals and periodicals, including The New Yorker, The Washington Post, and KUŠ!, as well as Australian publications such as The Age and Meanjin.
Their first book, Swimsuit, was published by Glom Press in 2018 and received a Silver Ledger Award from the Comic Arts Awards of Australia. Their second book, provisionally titled What You Seek (Is Seeking You), was scheduled for publication by Drawn & Quarterly in 2024.

About the Bucheon Residency

Paul Bordeleau

"Time. More important than money, success, or fame. The time offered to us during a creative residency is as precious as gold. Time spent creating, drawing, and walking the streets of Bucheon. Time I cherished, like the laughter of children in Bucheon Central Park. Time to watch people chatting as they sat together in a BBQ restaurant. My morning runs along the river near my residence, watching the fish swim to the rhythm of my steps. Bucheon, you were my time—fabulous and filled with the smiles of the people of the city who accompanied me during these moments that will remain with me forever. People with Korean hearts—a heart that now beats within me.“

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Rachel Ang

“Bucheon : not a second fiddle to the capital but a small, perfectly formed orchestra in its own right - charming, catchy tunes played by complex, affable characters. My time here seems defined by elemental things: the subway’s announcements and rhythmic chiming, which chul-ibmun dadseubnida!; a huge explosion of steam from a corner shop selling mandu the size of my palm; the warm glow of my wedge-shaped temporary home as I trace the warm dark streets back to my bed; a bright full moon over Bucheon my final evening. I surprise myself by how quickly I feel comfortable in this new(old) city. The most indelible part of this residency has been the people I’ve met, the strange and funny conversations with new friends, the infectious enthusiasm of my workshop participants. I am forever grateful to Bucheon, UNESCO City of Literature. Bucheon hands up! ”