A 462-Inch Wall Transformed into a Floral Display in an Instant... Is It a Lobby or a Garden?

Reopened on the 8th: Visiting Leeum Museum of Art

Renewed Museum Identity (MI) Inspired by 'Rotunda'
'Gigantic Woman III' Artwork Valued at Billions
Digital Guide Provides Artwork Explanation and Location Search
Permanent and Special Exhibitions to Be Free This Year

Exterior view of Samsung Leeum Museum of Art located in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul.

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghyun Choi] On the 5th, I visited the Samsung Leeum Museum of Art in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. As soon as I entered the museum entrance, the newly renewed museum logo shimmered, reflecting the sunlight. Unlike the past, when only the word ‘Leeum’ was engraved, the symbol inspired by the Rotunda (spiral staircase), an iconic architectural space inside Leeum, attracted more attention.

Upon entering the first-floor lobby, a massive ‘media wall’ measuring 11.3 meters wide and 3.2 meters high (462 inches) unfolded. This display, created with Samsung Electronics’ technology, supports a resolution exceeding 50 million pixels, the highest quality currently available. When the wreath-themed video by American video media artist Jennifer Steinkamp was projected on the screen, the lobby instantly transformed into a garden-like atmosphere. A Leeum official stated, "This is the largest media wall installed since Leeum’s opening in 2004," adding, "We plan to continuously introduce digital art projects by domestic and international artists."

'Media Wall' installed in the lobby of the Leeum Museum of Art.

Before the main exhibition viewing, visitors can appreciate two contemporary art pieces in the lobby. Among them, Kim Soo-ja’s ‘Breath,’ created by applying special film to the Rotunda’s windows and ceiling, was not only beautiful but also awe-inspiring. Looking up at the spiral Rotunda extending from the lobby to the ceiling, one can experience a spectrum of multicolored light. The colors change moment by moment depending on the amount of sunlight entering through the ceiling and windows. Lee Bae’s ‘From Fire,’ consisting of over 240 charcoal pieces stacked like a wall, is also installed in the lobby.

An attendant handed over a ‘digital guide’ the size of a Galaxy Note. This is Leeum’s ‘Docent in My Hand’ service, upgraded to the third generation for this reopening, following the first generation in 2004 and the second in 2013. Wearing the guide around the neck and approaching an artwork, a button appears on the screen to listen to the explanation of the piece. Pressing it plays photos, videos, and commentary about the artwork. By pressing the map, visitors can check their location within the exhibition hall. Searching for desired artworks allows visitors to find the optimal route to them.

Third-generation 'digital guide' electronic device of the Leeum Museum of Art.

Leeum will hold both permanent and special exhibitions in line with its reopening on the 8th. The M1 exhibition hall will host the ‘Ancient Art Permanent Exhibition.’ A total of 160 artworks (154 ancient art pieces and 6 contemporary art pieces), including 6 national treasures and 4 treasures, will be displayed. The highlight here is that visitors can step directly onto the Rotunda and descend while viewing the artworks. Starting from 4th-floor Goryeo celadon, visitors can tour clockwise through 3rd-floor Joseon Buncheong and white porcelain, 2nd-floor old books and paintings, and 1st-floor Buddhist art. Descending the Rotunda stairs, visitors walk counterclockwise, evoking a sensation of passing through time and space into another dimension of history. A collaborative exhibition connecting traditional art with contemporary artists such as Park Seo-bo and Jung Sang-hwa is also installed here.

The spiral staircase 'Rotunda' at the Leeum Museum of Art. Kim Suja's artwork 'Breath' is installed there.

The M2 exhibition hall is arranged as the ‘Contemporary Art Permanent Exhibition.’ It consists of 76 works including paintings, sculptures, and installations from the 2nd floor down to the basement 1st floor. The theme on the 2nd floor is ‘Black Void,’ focusing on the color black as it appears in artworks ranging from traditional ink paintings to modern abstract art. At the entrance of the exhibition hall, Choi Man-rin’s sculpture ‘Hyeon (玄),’ shaped like the Chinese character ‘玄 (Hyeon),’ reveals the mysterious and profound nature unique to black.

On the way down from the lobby to the special exhibition hall in the basement 1st floor stands the imposing ‘Large Woman III’ (1960) by Swiss sculptor Alberto Giacometti. This work was a major topic in the art world this year regarding whether it would be included in the ‘Lee Kun-hee Collection’ donation. The artwork is estimated to be worth several hundred billion won. It is Giacometti’s representative work expressing a long, skeletal female figure in bronze.

'Alberto Giacometti's "Large Woman III (1960)" by the Swiss sculptor and painter installed inside the Leeum Museum of Art.'

The special exhibition is set up using the Leeum Ground Gallery, Black Box, and common spaces. Under the theme ‘Human, Seven Questions,’ over 130 works by 51 domestic and international artists, including paintings, sculptures, installations, photography, and videos, are exhibited. It was planned to contemplate the meaning of existing as a human in the rapidly changing 21st-century environment, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and to envision the future. Tae Hyun-sun, Leeum’s chief curator, explained, "From the second half of 2019, during meetings with Lee Seo-hyun, Chairperson of Leeum’s Operating Committee (Chair of Samsung Welfare Foundation), there was a discussion to actively utilize our own collection with a universal theme for the exhibition planning. Since many of the collected works focus on humans and COVID-19 occurred during the preparation process, the special exhibition theme was set as ‘Human.’"

Leeum plans to open the permanent exhibition free of charge going forward. This is intended to approach the public more familiarly, moving away from previously closed operations. The special exhibition will be free only until the end of the year and will switch to paid admission starting next year. Additionally, the exhibition format will be reorganized without spatial separation between permanent and special exhibitions. Kim Sung-won, Leeum’s deputy director, said, "There will be significant changes at Leeum in the future, one of which is transforming the M2 exhibition hall into a space that can showcase both permanent and special exhibitions. Also, the permanent exhibition will be presented in a new format with planning and concepts, rather than the traditional chronological method."

Interior view of the Leeum Museum of Art exhibition hall.

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