MOCA to see drastic overhaul
By Ines Min
The National Museum of Contemporary Art, Korea (MOCA) in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, unveiled its budget forecast through 2016 at a press conference, Monday, and new high-tech storage space.
Six storage rooms for artwork at MOCA were shown, following three years of construction at a cost of 8.4 billion won ($7.5 million).
The move is part of the museum’s plans to open its third branch at the former Defense Security Command, also known as Gimusa, in Sogyeok-dong, central Seoul, as the main location will instead focus on education, storage and research.
The focal feature of the storage rooms is advanced, integrated temperature and humidity control to keep the atmosphere constant (between 40-70 percent humidity and 20 degrees Celsius, plus or minus 4 degrees). The original three rooms, built in 1986, were equipped with only air conditioners and separate temperature and humidity monitors.
New security measures include four levels of recognition: fingerprint scanners, combination codes, access cards and pin numbers. An automatic sensor turns on interior lights, while a 24-hour alarm system is in place to detect intruders.
The overall space has been expanded by 30 percent to 2,328 square meters. Each of the rooms comprises a variety of rolling shelves, adjustable platforms and drawers that enable paintings, sculptures and data storage media to be stored carefully.
Including the original rooms, the nine spaces can hold a total of 10,000 works, according to a press release.
The organization also announced its budget through 2016, which aims to triple its expenditures within five years in accordance with a planned move to become a corporate entity.
Though the museum is currently a government-run organization, a bill to change its status is pending at the National Assembly — a decision is expected within the year.
“In 2012, MOCA will increase its exhibition galleries to twice their size and transform into a corporate entity,” MOCA director Bae Soon-hoon told reporters at the press conference. “This year will be prepared as the ‘year of the stepping-stone.’”
The current annual budget of the nationally-funded museum is 24.6 billion won ($21.9 million), which is projected to increase to 71.1 billion won by 2016.
In particular, the budget for purchasing artworks is projected to increase to 13 billion won from this year’s 4 billion won.
“Long-term, 40-50 percent of our financial independence will be maintained, but it will take 10 to 15 years after the corporate transformation to reach that level,” said Park Young-dae, chairman of the planning and management division. He added that until that point is reached, the budget will mainly come from state coffers.
The Seoul museum will be completed in November 2012, with its inaugural exhibition held in late 2013.
The 38,200-square-meter complex includes nine exhibition halls, a workshop gallery and a media lab, integrated with large glass windows and open outdoor spaces. The projected number of visitors for its first year of opening is 2 million, according to the press release.
MOCA exhibitions in 2011
A schedule of upcoming exhibitions was also announced, with the first (March to June) at the main Gwacheon branch to focus on renowned artist Kim Chong-hak. This will be followed by a collaborative showcase of the U.S. Whitney Museum’s permanent collection at Deoksu Palace (May to September) and a special homage to winners of the Le Prix Marcel Duchamp in Gwacheon (July to October).
The Deoksu branch, SOMA Museum of Art and Arko Art Center will hold a joint exhibition “Annoyance” (September to December), and a collaborative exhibition with an Australian museum (November to February 2012).
The final exhibition of the year will be a special retrospective for photographer Lim Eung-sik at Deoksu, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of his birth (December to February 2012).