New modern art museum seeks to erase barriers with audience

The Seoul branch of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea is in the final stages of preparations for its opening in November. It will fulfill the long-held wish of the Korean art circle to have a signature modern art museum that represents Korean art in the heart of Seoul.

Located in a popular tourist area next to Gyeongbokgung Palace, the museum is adding the final touches before the official opening on Nov. 12 ― bringing in furniture, hiring staff, opening bidding for museum restaurant and coffee shop operations and, most importantly, preparing for the inaugural exhibitions.

The latest modern art museum in Korea aims to stand at the forefront in showcasing the latest contemporary art while being accessible to diverse audiences. 

“The new Seoul museum of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art will show the latest trends in contemporary art and show the innovative, progressive, experimental and universal sides of art,” said Choi Eun-ju, chief curator of the MMCA.

“Interaction is another keyword for us because it is a distinctive feature in contemporary art. So people will see many spaces where they can interact with artworks while enjoying museum facilities such as coffee shops, restaurants and museum shops. Visitors can eat, see, experience and learn at the new museum,” said Choi.

The museum’s vision will be delivered through the inaugural exhibition that transcends national boundaries in art, featuring seven international artists, selected by a seven-member international curatorial committee.

The main inaugural exhibition titled “Connecting_Unfolding” will feature diverse forms of visual expression in contemporary art ranging from painting, sculpture and installation to new experimental forms.

“It’s going to be an open-minded exhibition, breaking boundaries in contemporary art,” Choi added.

While the new museum in Seoul is expected to mainly showcase contemporary art, the MMCA’s two other existing museums in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province and Deoksugung Palace in Seoul will focus on modern art in Korea. 

The new museum is designed to be highly accessible to passersby, unlike conventional museums where visitors enter by a large gate and pass an overwhelmingly large lobby in order to view artworks.

The museum site stands in an open space without explicit boundaries that separate the art institution from existing buildings.

Exhibition spaces are scattered in a 3,000-square-meter space that houses seven exhibition halls, five storage spaces, a library, a theater and multipurpose halls.

“I wanted the museum to be like a public park where people come and go during lunch time, and also like a harmonious backdrop to the historical places nearby,” said Mihn Hyun-jun, principal architect of mp_Art Architects and assistant professor at the school of architecture at Hongik University.

“What was challenging for me was making a link between the past and the present. It had to be the most modern place while still creating harmony with the remnants of history,“ he said.

The museum building is across the street from Gyeongbokgung Palace, and right behind the museum stands the old office for royal family affairs of the Joseon period. The front building of the museum is the former Defense Security Command complex, which was renovated to host museum shops, office space and restaurants.

However, being a new guest in the historical neighborhood was not easy.

It took three years of excavations to look for ancient artifacts until the final approval was made by the state heritage officials. A fire last year killed four people, caused several injuries, and delayed construction for 64 days. The actual construction that began in December 2011 was completed in June this year.

The museum expects to draw approximately 2 million visitors a year. The Museum of Modern Art in New York City receives around 2.5 million visitors on average and Britain’s Tate Modern saw its visitors reach 5.3 million last year.

“I want people to just stop by like they go to a movie theater. They don’t have to feel pressured to see all the exhibitions. I want citizens to see what they can see and come later for other exhibitions,” said Mihn.

By Lee Woo-young (wylee@heraldcorp.com)