[WEEKEND GETAWAY] Experience the healing power of light and art at these four museums

K-campus

Published: 28 Jun. 2024, 17:03

[WEEKEND GETAWAY] Experience the healing power of light and art at these four museums

The Water Garden at Museum SAN in Wonju, Gangwon [KIM DONG-EUN]

Being exposed to light is a healing experience not just for pets, but it's also good for humans. If the experience includes natural lighting and artistic architecture, it's even better. However comforting your go-to unwinding routines may be — such as chilling at your favorite cafe or visiting a famous public gallery — they may grow old sometimes.

If you want a genuine "disconnecting" moment from daily life and recharge with some art and nature, natural lighting included, here are four notable private museums to visit this summer for a healing weekend.

Museum SAN
뮤지엄 산

An outdoor exhibition space at Museum SAN in Wonju, Gangwon [KIM DONG-EUN]

Museum SAN in Wonju, Gangwon, marks one of the top destinations for a refreshing retreat near nature as it successfully mixes scenic mountain views with creative artworks. Its name stands for Space, Art and Nature, embracing its initiative of the museum. Renowned architect Tadao Ando was the designer, who worked to create a space that would blend seamlessly with the surrounding mountains.

The current exhibition ″Burn to Shine″ by Ugo Rondinone takes place at the Nam June Paik Hall. [KIM DONG-EUN]

Highlights of the museum include the Flower Garden, Water Garden and Stone Garden, as well as American Light and Space Artist James Turrell’s light installations and a meditation hall, which creates an atmosphere for contemplation and a healing experience. Inside the building, the Paper Gallery hosts a permanent exhibition that explains the history of papers and the use of various materials, while the nearby Cheongjo Gallery hosts other seasonal exhibitions throughout the year. Until September 18, the Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone's "Burn To Shine" greets visitors with over forty pieces of sculpture, paintings and more creative artworks. You can find one of his major artworks at the Nam June Paik Hall.

The ticket options vary depending on whether you include your tour at the meditative space and James Turrell's light installation space, ranging from 23,000 won ($17) to 46,000 won. The admission, although visibly pricier compared to the public art museum tickets, justifies the extravagance as the expansive tour takes up to two to three hours, with the site stretching as long as 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles).

@museumsan_official
260, Oak valley 2-gil, Jijeong-myeon, Wonju
(강원 원주시 지정면 오크밸리 2길 260)
Operation hours: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. (Closed on Mondays, tickets sold until one hour before closing time)
Admission fee: From 23,000 won to 46,000 won for adults
Phone number: 033-730-9000
Website: https://www.museumsan.org/eng/

Mimesis Art Museum
미메시스 아트 뮤지엄

The building of the Mimesis Art Museum in Paju, Gyeonggi, plays with curves and shapes to create harmony with nature, allowing natural light to enter the building. [MIMESIS ART MUSEUM]

For visitors of the Mimesis Art Museum, the building itself is a piece of art. Located in Paju, Gyeonggi, the museum was designed by a Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza Vieira and inherited the name from its publishing branch, Mimesis. The curves and edges of the building harmonize with the surrounding environment, the tranquil Paju Book City, and the gray concrete walls elevate the contemporary aspect of the architecture. The site spans 3,663 square meters (0.9 acres) across three stories and one basement floor.

As the site is situated in Paju Book City, which is home to publishers and cultural organizations, Mimesis Art Museum features various book-related artworks, like the series "BOOK+IMAGE." It aims to mingle art with books and reinterpret literary works from an artist's view. Currently, another exhibition "MIMESIS SE19: That kind of picture" by Ahn Doo-jin is running until July 28, featuring contemporary art and illustrations.

This summer, if you are not too discouraged by the heat, try traveling to Paju Book City for an interactive experience with contemporary art and nature, accessible for a modest admission fee of 9,000 won.

@mimesis_art_museum
253 Munbal-ro, Paju, Gyeonggi
(경기 파주시 문발로 253)
Operation hours: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. (Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. From November to April, operation hour are shortened and the museum closes at 6 p.m.)
Admission fee: 9,000 won for adults
Phone number: 031-955-4100
Website: https://mimesisartmuseum.co.kr/

Moran Museum of Art
모란미술관

Moran Museum of Art's indoor exhibition spaces [MORAN MUSEUM OF ART]

Some museums are so vast that you can get lost in them. Moran Museum of Art is one of them, spanning some 28,430 square meters with a large-scale outdoor park. Situated in Namyangju, Gyeonggi, its proximity to Seoul makes it a good reason to visit for a day out. The museum showcases a rich collection of modern and contemporary Korean art. Founded on April 28, 1990, the museum boasts its history of over 30 years with some pieces based on some recognized artworks like "Balzac" by the late French painter Auguste Rodin (1840 - 1917).

Moran Museum of Art in Namyangju, Gyeonggi, has a vast outdoor area that has many sculptures throughout the site. [MORAN MUSEUM OF ART]

What makes the Moran Museum of Art unique is its vast outdoor exhibition space, which features some 100 sculptures that harmonize with the park. The lush greenery surrounding the building offers a healing space to appreciate nature and art. The museum also hosts seasonal exhibitions and events that utilize its extensive space. "Passages of perception" runs until July 28, an exhibition incorporating four artists and discussing the concept of perception through different views. You can book a spot through the Naver Map app.

@moranmuseum
8 Gyeongchun-ro 2110beon-gil Hwado-eup, Namyangju, Gyeonggi
(경기도 남양주시 화도읍 월산리 246-1)
Operation hours: 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. (Closed on Mondays)
Admission fee: 10,000 won for adults (above 19 years of age)
Phone number: 031-594-8001
Website: https://www.moranmuseum.org/

Haslla Art World
하슬라아트월드

Haslla Art World in Gangneung, Gangwon, overlooks the East Sea. [HASLLA ART WORLD]

Overlooking the mountains and the trees getting old? Then here's a fresh destination that embraces an open sea view. Haslla Art World in Gangneung, Gangwon, is an art complex that faces the East Sea, home to an art museum, outdoor park and even a museum hotel. The name "Haslla" comes from Gangneung's old name back in the Goguryeo Dynasty (37 B.C. to A.D. 668). Established by the sculptor couple Park Shin-jung and Choi Ok-yeung in 2003, this complex covers approximately 60 acres of land, offering interesting artwork throughout the site, sculptures included.

Visitors can explore and experience a plethora of attractions, given a choice between dropping by the observation deck to stare into the sea or walking through multiple art halls to see contemporary artworks, installations and Pinocchio-inspired art pieces. Haslla Art World is run jointly with Youngwol Y Park, another art complex that sits at a two-hour distance by car.

@haslla_art
1441 Yulgok-ro Gangdong-myeon, Gangneung-si, Gangwon
(강원도 강릉시 강동면 율곡로 1441)
Operation hours: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. (Open all year round)
Admission fee: 17,000 won for adults and adolescents in middle and high school
Phone number: 033-644-9411
Website: https://www.museumhaslla.com/

BY KIM DONG-EUN [kim.dongeun@joongang.co.kr]