A Tour of Seoul’s Streetside Architecture (10): Samcheong-ro

Artwork galleries seem one after the other strolling down Samcheong-ro previous the Dongsipjagak Tower, main the way in which to a avenue full of tradition. Initially based underneath the title “Hyundai Hwarang,” Gallery Hyundai is likely one of the most consultant artwork galleries in Korea boasting over 50 years of historical past. It has been enjoying a giant half in selling the originality and excellence of Korean modern artwork. It has additionally launched in style artists that now characterize Korean artwork, together with such names as Park Su-geun, Lee Jung-seop, and Kim Hwan-gi, to the world. The gallery continues to host many distinctive modern artwork exhibitions to this present day.

The exhibition area additionally promotes the freewheeling spirit of up to date artwork. From the doorway, guests are naturally led to the foyer, after which to the open exhibition corridor on the primary flooring, which is half a narrative decrease than the doorway. Then the underground exhibition corridor comes into sight over the guardrail. The staircase that connects to the exhibition corridor additionally has a peculiar observe. As such, Gallery Hyundai welcomes guests with an open area, after which helps the guests proceed their gallery expertise in a calmer ambiance on the exhibition corridor on the second flooring.

Positioned proper subsequent to Gallery Hyundai, the Kumho Museum of Artwork has spectacular granite facade much like Gyeongbokgung Stonewall Walkway. From the exterior design that types a concord with the encompassing panorama, banded home windows on the prime of the constructing that resemble roof tiles positioned on a stone wall present simply a lot element the architect put into the design.

The Nationwide Museum of Trendy and Modern Artwork (MMCA) Seoul was established in 2013 throughout Geonchunmun Gate, the east gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace, together with MMCA Gwacheon and MMCA Deoksugung Palace to exhibit and research trendy and modern Korean artwork. The outdated constructing utilized by the Protection Safety Command was transformed into the foyer, employees room, and artwork store. The crimson brick wall, which used to characterize oppression, however now a part of the historical past, has develop into the entrance gate to the museum that embodies artwork with freedom of expression.

When trying on the museum from Samcheong-ro, your gaze naturally strikes to the brick constructing, then to a giant garden plaza within the center, after which to the schooling constructing embellished with gentle yellow terra cotta tiles. The exhibition corridor is pushed again a bit of. MMCA’s architect Min Hyun-jun mentioned that he needed to create an open artwork museum. MMCA Seoul, an artwork museum that’s not centered round exhibition halls, has develop into like that of a metropolis that’s linked to the encompassing alleyways centered across the garden plaza within the center.

On Samcheong-ro, there’s a gallery with a hanok constructing with crimson brick partitions and conventional roof tiles referred to as Hakgojae Gallery, which connects the normal and trendy worlds as its title was impressed by The Analects of Confucius: “Be taught the outdated, and create the brand new.” Hakgojae Gallery is well-known for its lengthy historical past of internet hosting artwork exhibitions that categorical the age, together with in style arts of the time. The normal hanok fashion important constructing that represents the outdated with and the brand new constructing taking over a extra trendy architectural fashion symbolize its id.

The outer crimson brick partitions mix nicely with the encompassing trendy fashion buildings, in addition to the eaves of the hanok constructing. This theme continues contained in the constructing as nicely. The uncovered picket construction and rafters of the hanok constructing assist the ceiling and clear white partitions spotlight the artworks exhibited within the corridor. It’s a distinctive area the place you possibly can admire modern and future trendy artworks inside a standard area like a hanok.

As you stroll alongside Samcheong-ro, you will end up standing at a fork within the highway. The highway heading to the left connects to the Blue Home, whereas the highway veering to the best results in Samcheong-dong Cafe Road. Cute little shops and murals all through the road create a creative vibe. Time flies by as you stroll alongside uncover quaint cafes, eating places, and artwork galleries hidden away in slender alleyways.

There are not any high-rise buildings in Samcheong-dong Cafe Road, and the road gives an open view. You may get pleasure from a distant view of Bugaksan Mountain. Alongside the road, buildings embellished with roof tiles and stone partitions proceed up the hill all the way in which to Bukchon Hanok Village. The Korean architectural designs and trendy buildings create a particular avenue view of Samcheong-dong.