Local Hotels Become Art Galleries

By Bae Ji-sook

Staff Reporter

If you think art is something limited to galleries and museums, you may want to visit a hotel lobby. This is the newest trend ― hotels hanging or installing art to spice up their interiors and enhance their image.

So if you're staying in a hotel and don't have the time to visit a gallery downtown, or just don't feel like going out in the hot summer weather, simply ask your concierge to show you around the hotel and point out the finer points of the art.

From Miro to Kim Ki-chang

The Shilla Seoul features a variety of pieces from world-renowned artists, including Juan Miro's "Samurai," Armand's "Violin" and Antoni Tapies' unnamed paintings.

Many of the works are simply hung on the wall along the way to the restaurants and rooms and of the large building, so it is quite natural that simply some walk past, oblivious to their value.

Foreign artists aren't the only ones at Silla Seoul. In fact, there are more domestic names featured, including both indoor and outdoor art. The painting "Cheongroksansu" (clear and green mountains and rivers) by Unbo Kim Ki-chang ― who some consider one of the most highly accredited painters in Korean history ― is showcased in the banquet room.

But what draws the most attention is the large chandelier in the lobby entitled ``An Aggregate 07-063.'' The chandelier, composed of tens of thousands of acrylic beads hung on nylon wires, was an exhibition for the Christmas season two years ago, but became a regular piece after thousands of people praised it, said Sue Kim, the hotel promoter.

Contemporary Art

The W Seoul-Walkerhill, known for its flashy and contemporary overall concept, has one of the hippest art collections in the city. In collaboration with international venues such as the Bitforms Gallery of New York, Farmboy Art of Fine Art of Canada, and Etkin Fitzerald Studio, as well as Korean artists like Lee Jae-hyo, the hotel is filled with bizarre, eye-catching installments.

The ``Wooden Mirror'' in the lobby surprises many, as it is composed of small wooden panels that move to follow guest movements. Small censors control the panels, explained Eileen Park, the hotel's promoter.

Even the outfits worn by the staff are artworks, Park said, designed by Australian designer Barbara Battaglini and Jung Wook-jun from Korea.

Opportunity for Korean Artists

Some hotels are using their space to help promote Korean artists.

Both of Seoul's InterContinental hotels are dedicated to collecting mostly Korean works. The Grand InterContinental Seoul currently has a collection of about 80 artworks, including 43 oil paintings, 11 Oriental paintings, 11 sculptures and 15 prints. The COEX InterContinental Seoul has a total of 73 artworks, including 31 oil paintings, 6 sculptures, 25 prints and 3 installations.