Art museum breathes new life into Jeju

Indian artist Subodh Gupta’s "What does the vessel contain, that the river does not" is installed at Arario Museum Tapdong Cinema in Jeju City. / Courtesy of Arario Museum

Derelict cinema, motel in Jeju reborn as collector's art trove

By Kwon Mee-yoo

JEJU ― A new art museum stands vivid red in old downtown of Jeju city. This is Arario Museum Tapdong Cinema, a new project of self-made multimillionaire and art collector Kim Chang-il.

Kim is an art collector of some 30 years. His collection includes 3,700 pieces, ranging from the world's most expensive artists to emerging Asian talents. Most of the collection has been kept in a private storage in Okcheon, North Chungcheong Province, but those are now seeing the light of day at Arario Museum in Space in Seoul and three additional museums in Jeju.

The 63-year-old entrepreneur, collector, gallerist and artist purchased abandoned buildings in Jeju and transformed them into art museums, breathing a new life into the old town center.

Kohei Nawa’s “Deer Family” is displayed on the first floor of Arario Museum Tapdong Cinema. / Courtesy of Arario Museum

"I used to think that flowers look beautiful when they are trimmed and put in vase, but when I came to Jeju, I realized that wild flowers under stone walls are lovelier as they are," Kim said at a press preview of the museums last week.

Tapdong Cinema was once a major cultural venue of Jeju city from 1999 to 2005, but it was forced to close in 2005 due to financial difficulties and had been abandoned since then. Kim bought the building later and turned it into an art museum, maintaining its unique structure as a former movie theater.

Kim did not decorated the building with traditional white cube style, but revealed concrete, steel bars and pipes of the building as they are. "Gray cement complements the works, making the viewers solely concentrate on art," he said.

Aono Fumiaki’s “The dream I dreamt in Dongmun Motel” is a reconstruction of furniture and objects found in the abandoned motel.

As the founder of the museum, Kim carefully selected each piece to match with the museum space. Japanese artist Kohei Nawa's "Deer Family" greets the visitors upon entering the museum. Kim thought the five different sizes of stuffed deer covered in glass beads represent the value of family and put it as a mascot of the museum.

Larger works are installed on upper floors. Indian artist Subodh Gupta's "What does the vessel contain, that the river does not" was one of the most difficult piece to display due to its large size. Gupta put miscellaneous household items from kettles to televisions in the 21-meter-long boat, symbolizing the modern life.

Chinese artist Zhang Huan's "Hero No. 2" is another awe-inspiring artwork. The sculpture of a woman bearing a child is composed of over 100 cowskins. The grotesque shape and gigantic size is astonishing.

Kim Chang-il, Arario Group chairman, speaks during a press tour of Arario Museum Tapdong Cinema, a former movie theater now houses Kim’s world-renowned art collection, in Jeju City. / Korea Times photo by Kwon Mee-yoo

These works reflect the change of taste in Kim's collection. He began collecting with modern masters such as Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat in the 1980s, but his recent acquisitions are mostly young Asian artists.

On the top floor, Kim exhibited four large paintings of German artist Sigmar Polke including "The Fastest Gun in the West." These are Kim's prized possessions which are coveted by many prestigious museums.

Kim made no disguise of his excitement and joy of opening the Jeju museums. He openly said he feels so good he could "go crazy" and even sang songs during the tour, explaining origin of the name "Arario," which came from Korean folk song "Arirang."

Bright red exterior of Arario Museum Tapdong Cinema in old town center of Jeju breathes a new life into the neighborhood.

Kim believes that art is not something difficult or apart from realities. He produces artworks under the pen name of CI Kim and the works are inspired by everyday life. Neon artwork reads “By Destiny” condenses his journey to establish the museum in two words.

While the Tapdong Cinema branch mainly displays Kim’s collections, Arario Museum Tapdong Bikeshop, focuses on an artist. A former motorcycle shop gained a new life as a museum and Korean avant-garde artist Kim Ku-lim graces the inaugural exhibit.

While the two branches of Arario Museum in Tapdong are located in the center of the old downtown, Arario Museum Dongmun Motel stands in an alley of a somber neighborhood full of tacky inns.

Unlike the lofty halls of Tapdong Cinema, a part of Dongmun Motel maintains the structure of the old inn. Some of the rooms even have its toilet and bathtub intact.

Aono Fumiaki's "The dream I dreamt in Dongmun Motel" is a reconstruction of furniture and objects found in the abandoned motel. British artist duo Jake and Dinos Chapman's uncanny works of deformed bodies go well with the creepy atmosphere of the former inn.

Kim plans to open Arario Museum Tapdong Motel 2 next March, which is currently under renovation.

“This all came from my experience as a collector, gallerist and artist for some three decades. I enjoy what I do and am happy to share my possessions with the society,” Kim said.

Admission is 12,000 won for Arario Museum Tapdong Cinema and Tapdong Bikeshop and 6,000 won for Arario Museum Dongmun Motel. For more information, visit www.arariomuseum.com or call (064) 720-8201~4.