Olympics Fall into art in Gangwon Province
Museum San, located in Wonju, Gangwon Province, is designed by Japanese architect Tadao Ando. Visitors have to pass the Water Garden and Alexander Liberman's red sculpture "Archway" to reach the museum building. / Courtesy of Museum San
By Kwon Mee-yoo
With the opening of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games just around the corner, snowy Gangwon Province is known as a haven for winter sports enthusiasts. But the province offers a lot more, including a handful of interesting and unique art museums to quench artistic thirsts.
Museum San
Museum San, located near Oak Valley Resort in Wonju, Gangwon Province, is nestled in the mountains and designed by Japanese architect Tadao Ando.
The museum is operated by the Hansol Foundation of Culture and this year's special exhibition highlights the museum's mother company, Hansol Group, known for its paper products.
Inspired by long traditions of paper craft in Korea, the "Paper Taking Shape, Paper Sculpture" exhibit features unconventional art pieces using paper in creative ways. Here, the possibilities of paper are extended infinitely.
In addition to the paper-inspired art in the Ando building, the museum offers five of James Turrell’s works in a separate building.
Turrell is known as the artist who paints with light and his works offer a transcendental and meditative experience. Some of the works are site-specific and provide unique experiences combined with the ever-changing light and scenery surrounding Museum San.
"Sky Space" is a naked-eye observatory offering a constantly changing view of the sky according to time and light. "Space Division" is alternatively available in "Sky Space" at certain times. "Horizon Room" symbolizes an altar of light and takes visitors across the border between the 2D and 3D planes, literally.
"Wedgework" uses darkness and light to question the concept of space, while "Ganzfeld," which means "complete field" in German, makes viewers step into the light and experience disorientation, literally.
For more information, visit museumsan.org or call 033-730-9000.
Samtan Art Mine in Jeongseon, Gangwon Province, is a coal mine-turned-art museum. / Courtesy of Samtan Art Mine
Samtan Art Mine
Jeongseon County was once a major coal-mining town in Gangwon Province. The Samcheok Tanjwa opened in 1964 and enjoyed its heyday as Korea went through rapid industrial development, but closed down in 2001 as the coal mining industry declined.
The abandoned coal pit gained new life as over 100,000 art pieces collected from 150 countries are now on view at the newly renovated Samtan Art Mine.
Along with contemporary art, the Samtan Art Center showcases the history of the coal pit. Visitors can see the vertical mining shaft as well as job sheets and pay slips of the miners who once worked here.
Samtan Art Mine also offers an artist-in-residency program and select artists can stay and work in the art center.
Rail by Museum transformed the old mineshaft into a sculpture, witnessing the history of the colliery.
The museum's unique atmosphere attracts filmmakers and the hit drama "Descendants of the Sun" was also filmed here.
Samtan Art Mine is located near Jeongseon Alpine Centre. For more information, visit samtanartmine.com or call 033-591-3001.
Bauzium in Goseong, Gangwon Province, is a sculpture gallery with a view of Ulsanbawi Rock, six granite peaks of Seorak Mountain. / Courtesy of Bauzium
Bauzium
Bauzium is a museum of rocks. The name of the museum is a combination of "bawi" (Korean word for rock) and museum, hinting at its close relationship to rocks.
The museum is operated by artist Kim Myoung-sook, who specializes in curvy sculptures depicting the female body.
The artist was fascinated by the museum site's view facing Ulsanbawi Rock, six granite peaks of Seorak Mountain. Designed by architect Kim In-cheurl of Archium, the museum embraces natural elements into design.
Bauzium has three galleries _ the Modern and Contemporary Sculpture Gallery, the Kim Myoung-sook Gallery and the Special Pavilion for temporary exhibitions.
The museum also has the outdoor Healing Garden, consisting of a Pine Tree Garden, Water Garden, Stone Garden, Grass Garden and Terra Cotta Garden.
For more information, visit bauzium.co.kr or call 033-632-6632.
Haslla Art World in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, has outdoor art gardens offering a multi-sensory art experience. / Courtesy of Haslla Art World
Haslla Art World
Haslla Art World is located at Jeongdongjin in the coastal city of Gangneung, where skating, ice hockey and curling events will be held during the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
Founded by artist Choi Ok-yeung and his wife and sculptor Park Shin-jung, the Haslla Art World offers a multisensory art experience in a site over 109,000 square meters which includes an outdoor sculpture park, art museum, observatory and hotel.
The name "Haslla" comes from the city's old name during the Silla Kingdom (57 BC _ 935 AD).
Guests of the hotel can enjoy a spectacular sea view as well as interesting art placed inside and outside the hotel. Each room is designed by a different artist and offers an individual experience.
The outdoor Art Garden is divided into six themes _ Pine Tree Garden, Time Hall, Wetlands, Field Garden, Sea Garden and Fun Garden.
For more information, visit haslla.kr or call 033-648-4091.