2013.7.11 MUSEUMS & GALLERIES

PROSAIC LANDSCAPE

Kukje Gallery, Jongno District

To Sunday: This is a solo show of Roh Choong-hyun. In the exhibition, the 43-year-old artist presents 25 landscape paintings of the Han River - nightscapes and snow-covered riversides on the first floor of the gallery’s K1 space and summer landscapes primarily depicting the riversides flooded in the rainy season, on the second floor. All the images are calm and desolate.

“In all of these unique portraits, the Han River seems both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time, a tension based on the artist’s ability to translate the physical world into an abstract place in his memories,” Kukje said in a press release.

Admission is free. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and until 5 p.m. Sunday. Go to Anguk Station, line No. 3, exit 1, and walk for 10 minutes.

(02) 735-8449, www.kukje.org

YANAGI MUNEYOSHI

National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Deoksugung, Jung District

To July 21: This exhibition looks back on the life and art criticism of Yanagi Muneyoshi (1889-1961) based on his art collection, which includes white porcelain from Korea’s Joseon period (1392-1910) and wooden Buddhist sculptures from Japan.

The Japanese art theorist is best known for founding the Mingei movement, which regarded the craft of everyday objects created by anonymous people as art. Behind the movement were his strong impressions of the “unsophisticated beauty” of Joseon art.

Admission is 5,000 won ($4.40) for adults. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, and 10 p.m. Friday to Sunday. It is closed on Monday. Go to City Hall Station, line No. 1 or 2, exit No. 1, 2 or 3.

(02) 2188-6114, www.moca.go.kr.

BILL VIOLA FROM THE MUSEUM

COLLECTION

National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Gwacheon

To Sept. 1: This exhibition introduces the “Tristan Project” by videographer Bill Viola. Two works from the project, which Viola created based on Richard Wagner’s “Tristan und Isolde”, are on display. They are “Tristan’s Ascension” (2005) and “Fire Woman” (2005). According to the museum, “Tristan’s Ascension” describes the ascent of the soul after death in slow motion. A man’s limp body rises with a torrent of water that brings his soul to heavenly light.

Admission is free. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m Tuesday to Friday and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends. It is closed Monday. Go to Seoul Grand Park Station, line No. 4, exit 4, and take the shuttle bus.

(02) 2188-6114, www.moca.go.kr

STUDIO GHIBLI LAYOUT DESIGNS

Hangaram Design Museum of Seoul Arts Center, Seocho District

To Sept 22: As part of Hyundai Card’s culture project, the exhibition presents about 1,300 pieces of layout drawings for famous animated films such as “My Neighbor Totoro” and “Spirited Away” from Japan’s Studio Ghibli. Layout drawings are blueprints for the composition of each scene’s image in animated films.

The layouts are displayed based on the chronological order of the animation, starting from “Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind” (1984) to “From Up on Poppy Hill” (2011).

Admission is 15,000 won ($13.04) for adults.

The museum is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., except on the last Monday of the month, on which the museum is closed.

Go to Nambu Bus Terminal Station, line No. 3, exit 5 and walk for 10 minutes.

1688-6875, http:superseries.kr/4441

A DIGITAL ODYSSEY: SECRET MUSEUM

Hangaram Art Museum of Seoul Arts Center, Seocho District

To Sept. 22: The exhibition offers elaborate digital reproductions of 35 famous paintings in Western art history, including “The Ambassadors” by Hans Holbein, “Sun Setting Over The Seine At Lavacourt, Winter Effect” by Claude Monet and “The Summer,” by Giuseppe Arcimboldo.

This is a tour of the 2010 exhibition “Revelations” from Petit Palais in France to Korea. The exhibition shows in-depth analysis of each painting in terms of drawing, color, light, shadow, perspective, materials and emotion, with high-resolution images, holograms, 3-D multi-screens and customized sounds.

Tickets are 12,000 won ($10.60) for adults. The exhibition is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. but is closed on the last Monday of every month.

Go to Nambu Bus Terminal Station, line No. 3, exit 5.

(02) 580-1300, www.secretmuseum.co.kr.

HOW TO MAKE A BOOK WITH STEIDL

Daelim Museum, Jongno District

To Oct. 8: The exhibition shows not only the famous art books by German publisher Gerhard Steidl, but also visualizes his work process with artists and writers through documentary photos, designs and illustrations for the books.

Steidl has worked with Gunter Grass, Karl Lagerfeld and many others to create a book - or an artwork, according to Steidl.

Tickets for adults are 5,000 won. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Tuesday to Sunday. Go to Gyeongbokgung station, line No. 3, exit 3 or 5, and walk for 5 minutes.

(02) 720-0667, www.daelimmuseum.org.