A piece from "Back to the Future: An Exploration of Contemporaneity in Korean Contemporary Art," an exhibit at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Seoul, South Korea. (Christopher Green/Stars and Stripes)
In the bustling city of Seoul, fans of art and Korean culture can always find something to see and do.
The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art is one place you cannot miss. It was founded in 1969 to raise art and cultural awareness through exhibitions and educational research. There are four branches, including the Deoksugung and Seoul locations in the city itself.
The Deoksugung branch is inside Deoksugung Palace in the Seokjojeon Annex, but the Seoul branch, near Gyeongbukgung Palace, is the larger space — four floors filled with five exhibits that will blow you away.
A piece from “Game Society,” an interactive exhibit at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Seoul, South Korea. (Christopher Green/Stars and Stripes)
The museum offers much more than just paintings on a wall. For example, my favorite exhibit, “Game Society,” explores how videogaming has influenced our society. Whether that influence is good or bad is completely up to you.
This amazing, interactive exhibition occupies the museum’s entire basement floor and features nine video games that you can play and more than 30 art pieces.
Another cool exhibit is “Meditation on YouTube,” a performance art piece that’s split into four parts being revealed over the next year.
A piece from "Back to the Future: An Exploration of Contemporaneity in Korean Contemporary Art," an exhibit at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Seoul, South Korea. (Christopher Green/Stars and Stripes)
A piece from "Back to the Future: An Exploration of Contemporaneity in Korean Contemporary Art," an exhibit at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Seoul, South Korea. (Christopher Green/Stars and Stripes)
A piece from "Back to the Future: An Exploration of Contemporaneity in Korean Contemporary Art," an exhibit at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Seoul, South Korea. (Christopher Green/Stars and Stripes)
Part One — “(Electronic) Meditation with Nam June Pai” — can be viewed up until this month and features various art genres that explore how meditation is changing in today’s digital society.
On the first floor, you will find “Back to the Future: An Exploration of Contemporaneity in Korean Contemporary Art.” This exhibit explores newly acquired works from the 1990s, and includes noteworthy visual artists An Jungju and Bahc Yiso.
ON THE QT
Directions: 30 Samcheong-ro 5-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul. A 15-minute walk from Gwanghwamun Station.
Times: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday; closed Monday.
Costs: Admission to the museum is free; however, the exhibits themselves require a small fee.
Food: A café inside the museum serves coffee, tea, and sandwiches.
Information: 02-3701-9500; www.mmca.go.kr/eng
