The Art Archives of the Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA) is a branch of SeMA (Seoul Museum of Art ), dedicated to preserving art records and artworks. Notably, it is Korea’s first art archive museum, making it an essential destination for those interested in the history and documentation of contemporary art.

I don’t usually walk around this area, so I tend to pass it by without much thought. But on this particular day, as I strolled through the neighborhood, I decided to step inside and explore.

 

Collaborating Space

 

Map

 

A1 (Gallery1), A3 (Gallery2)​

Gallery 1 is located next to the main entrance on the first floor of the Collaborating space. Gallery 2 is located behind the Lounge (Reference Library) on the 1st floor of the Collaborating space. Although the area is smaller than Gallery 1, it is an exhibition hall that utilizes all of the height of the first and second floors of the collaborationg room. You can look down on the inside of the exhibition hall from the second floor of the collaborating space.

 

A2  Lounge1/2 (Reference Library)​

The Reference Library is a space to expand your thoughts and mind about art through books. Introducing collections by the Art Archives of Seoul Museum of Art, including books, exhibition catalogs, artist books, independent publications, and picture books about domestic and foreign art.

 

A4 Research Lab​

Research Lab is a space where you can view art and institutional records, which are important materials for modern art research. Art records are produced and collected by artists, mediators, and organizations during the creative process, such as producing works or planning exhibitions. Institutional records are the operational records achieved during the growth of the Seoul Museum of Art, which was established in 1988.

One of the exhibitions on display was about Min Choi, the first Korean translator of Ernst Gombrich’s iconic book, The Story of Art.

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Seeing the collection of historical materials and records reminded me of my grandfather, who is a passionate collector himself. Unsurprisingly, many of the items on display were also part of his extensive collection at home.

Admission is free but can be required for certain special exhibitions.

Upon exiting the exhibition space, I noticed a reference library. Since the museum only opened in April, the collection is still limited, but it holds promise for growing into a valuable research hub in the future.

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Research Lab (3F)

Upstairs, on the third floor, the Research Lab in the Collaborating Space allows visitors to view art documents, essential primary sources for studying contemporary art.

 

A2 Lounge

Though I entered on a whim, I found the Art Archives of SeMA to be a fascinating and unique space. It’s still in its early stages, but with time, it has the potential to become an important art research hub in Korea.

If you’re in the area and interested in art history, exhibitions, or research materials, it’s worth a visit, even if it’s just for a quick look. Who knows, you might stumble upon something unexpectedly interesting… just like I did!

 

Address : 148-16 Pyeongchang-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul  OPEN GOOGLE MAP

Phone : +82-2-2124-7400

Operation Hours : Tuesday - Friday : 10:00 - 20:00, Weekends : 10:00 - 19:00 (Monday closed)

Website : semaaa.seoul.go.kr

Instagram : Check out more photos

 

Source : https://blog.naver.com/maremaium/223170688452

Writer : maremaium

Special thanks to maremaium

 

art archives of seoul museum of Art SeMA seoul exhibition

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