Art shows this week

“This open, comprehensive cultural space was established by the actor Yoo Ah-in, photographer Kim Jae-hoon, the young artists Kwon Cheol-hwa and Kwon Ba-da and others. I go here quite often as I live nearby, and it's the perfect place to have some tea. On the rooftop, you can relax and enjoy the view of Namsan.”

“Here’s Ju Tae-seok, your favorite artist dear.” An old couple stops in front of Ju’s painting of Seokpajeong to admire its summer greenery. With all the walls painted black, the space appears a little too dark, but the Seoul Museum is known among Seoul museums and galleries for using one of the best spotlights. As the curator explains that the lights are designed to show the true colors of the paintings, I let out something like a gasp of acknowledgement. It’s not the fancy lights that surprise me, but the fact that the curator himself is taking the time to walk me through all the works in the exhibition. “Visitors to the museum are normally on the older side,” explains the curator. “They like seeing these kinds of landscapes by modern Korean painters.”    Walking past Ju’s painting of Seokpajeong reduced by abstraction, vivid orchards open the next exhibition, depicting the rural sceneries of Paju, Lee Dae-won’s hometown. In the farthest right corner of the exhibition, the melody of “Orchard Road” plays. It’s a traditional Korean children’s song and you can hear it just faintly. The scenery is all about seasonal change until I head up to the top floor to see “All (is) Vanity,” a group exhibition on contemporary art sculptures, both kinetic and stagnant. Although there aren’t any lingering curators in place to personally guide you through the exhibit, there are multiple wall and floor texts next to each of the artworks, hinting at the curatorial direction without being...

Sungkok Arts & Cultural Foundation was established in 1995. In homage to Mr. Sung Gon Kim, the late founder of Ssangyong Corporation, it was named after Kim's nickname, Sungkok. The museum itself was built upon his former home. This non-profit organization continues Kim’s support for education, arts and culture reflecting his philosophy: "national progress begins with the cultivation of bright minds." Divided into two halls, the museum has hosted various local and international contemporary artists along with genre-specific exhibitions including photography, fashion, design and video. One of the things that make this museum more appealing is the surrounding gardens. Consisting of around 100 different types of trees, this small urban forest has a walking path with impressive sculptures created by acclaimed artists like Arman, Gu Bonju and Suh Donghun displayed along the way. Located near the palatial site of Gyeonghuigung, the surrounding area also offers a tasteful atmosphere.