Seoul Museum of Art Presents Large-Scale Archive Exhibition on 'Architecture'

Seoul Museum of Art Presents 'Architecture for All Collection' Exhibition Until June 14

[Asia Economy Reporter Byunghee Park] The Seoul Museum of Art is holding the exhibition "Architecture Collection for Everyone," linked to the "Collection for Everyone" exhibition at the Seosomun Main Building, at the Seoul Museum of Art Namseoul until June 14.

Due to the temporary closure of museums caused by the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), this exhibition can be viewed online for the time being. The Seoul Museum of Art plans to implement a reservation system through the Seoul public service reservation site to allow limited in-person viewing depending on the improvement of the COVID-19 situation. Detailed information can be found on the Seoul Museum of Art website.

The "Architecture Collection for Everyone" exhibition showcases various "by-products" produced during the deconstruction and creative processes of traditional Eastern and Western architecture and modern architecture after liberation, confirming the current state of Korean architectural collection and exploring its future. The Seoul Museum of Art began systematic architectural collection about 10 years ago. This exhibition answers the questions "Why collect architecture?" and "What are the targets and methods of architectural collection?" by presenting the repeated cyclical processes of architectural creation, destruction, deconstruction, and creation.

The exhibition is set in the former Belgian Consulate (1905), a Western classical-style building relocated in the early 1980s from Hoehyeon-dong, Jung-gu to its current location in Namhyeon-dong, Gwanak-gu, and is composed of two sections that allow visitors to experience the origins, meaning, and methods of architectural collection.

The first section on the first floor, "Traditional Architecture, Fragments of Objects," focuses on the inherent nature of architecture being collected through processes of deconstruction and reconstruction. It compares Western classical architecture of Korea’s modern period with traditional Korean architecture to examine differences and commonalities between Eastern and Western architecture. Exhibits include architectural materials from the modern Western building "Former Belgian Consulate," architectural components from National Treasure No. 1 Seoul Sungnyemun Gate, Treasure No. 1310 Naju Bulhwasaji Daewoongjeon, and Seoul Unhyeongung Ajadang, as well as the 1961 Sungnyemun repair report drawings and a model of Sungnyemun.

The second section on the second floor, "Architectural Site, Flow of Creation," demonstrates that architecture is completed through a series of creative processes and diverse collaborations, and that all results produced during this process can be subjects of collection. About 100 archives (including actual architectural components, models, sketches, drawings, photographs, etc.) and records provided by six national, public, and private institutions and over 40 architects and firms representing Korean modern architecture are introduced in an exhibition space designed like an actual architectural office.

Key works include the Kyunghyang Newspaper Building (designed by Bae Ki-hyung and structural engineers, 1968) representing early Korean modernism and its original watercolor perspective drawings; a model of Kyungdong Church (Space Research Institute/Kim Swoo-geun, 1980), a master of spatial form; a 1:1 scale model of the Three Trees House (Kim Jae-kyung Architectural Research Institute/Kim Jae-kyung, 2019), which interprets traditional wooden structures in a modern architectural language; and the Samil Building (Kim Joong-up, 1969, Wonowon Architex/Choi Wook, currently under renovation), which highlights both deconstructed past architecture and regenerated present architecture.

During the exhibition period, a participatory program is continuously operated in the first-floor lounge where visitors can assemble the "gongpo" (bracket system) of Sungnyemun and make rubbings on traditional roof tiles. Additionally, on the second-floor exhibition hall, a simplified design class called "Becoming an Architect," where visitors aged middle school and above can create their own house, is held on alternate Saturdays and Sundays from 2 to 5 p.m. during the exhibition period, with reservations available through the museum website.

Since February 25, the Seoul Museum of Art has been conducting an online campaign called #SeMA_Link to provide online experiences amid difficulties in on-site visits. As special programs for the opening of the "Architecture Collection for Everyone" exhibition, a "Curator-led Exhibition Tour" will be presented on April 24, and an "Exhibition Highlights Introduction" video on May 1 will be available on the Seoul Museum of Art’s SNS channels.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.