SeMA to turn page with major renovation, opening of two new branches

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

Entertainment & Arts

Thu, November 30, 2023 | 23:02

Theater & Others

SeMA to turn page with major renovation, opening of two new branches

Posted : 2023-08-24 14:25

Updated : 2023-08-25 14:40

Choi Eun-ju, the newly appointed general director of the Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA), speaks at a press conference at the museum's main Seosomun branch in central Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

By Park Han-sol

The Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA), a network of museums and art-focused entities scattered across the capital and operated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, is set to renovate and expand its main Seosomun branch in central Seoul by May 2026, the institution announced on Wednesday.

The branch first opened its doors in Jongno District in 1988 and moved to its current location near Deoksu Palace in 2002. Its renovation will focus on revamping the aging building ― save for its facade, a state-registered cultural property ― and expanding the underground area by 3,000 square meters for more capacious exhibition halls and storage spaces. Exhibitions will continue to run throughout all stages of the remodeling period, it added.

SeMA is also scheduled to open two new venues in the fall of next year ― Seoul Museum of Photography in Seoul's Dobong District in October and Seo-Seoul Museum of Art in Geumcheon District in November ― and will thus operate 10 locations in total. Earlier this year, it celebrated the opening of the Art Archives, the country's first public institution dedicated to collecting, preserving and researching historic records relevant to the contemporary Korean art scene.

An architectural illustration of the Seoul Museum of Art's remodeled and expanded Seosomun branch near Deoksu Palace in central Seoul / Courtesy of SeMA

"The city museum has continuously grown over the last 35 years since its establishment. And now we are ready to turn the page to the next three decades," said Choi Eun-ju,?the institution's newly appointed general director at the press conference.

"In addition to its external growth, the museum aims to establish itself as a symbolic presence for the citizens through the planning of exhibitions and programs that can play a pivotal role in the domestic and international art world."

The upcoming 12th Seoul Mediacity Biennale, curated by the artistic director Rachael Rakes, will offer a glimpse into that ambition.

Under the theme of "THIS TOO, IS A MAP," the biennial event will be staged at a larger scale than its previous editions from Sept. 21 to Nov. 19, as it exhibits the works of 65 artists and collectives across six venues, including SeMA, Seoul Museum of History and Seoullo Media Canvas.

Prior to its official opening, the biennale is set to unveil two new sculptures, "Earth Monument" by ikkibawiKrrr and "I Belong to the Distance 3 (Force Multiplier)" by Torkwase Dyson, during an invite-only preview on Sept. 4 and the public viewing the next day in time for the concurrent arrival of Frieze Seoul and Kiaf Seoul art fairs.

hansolp@koreatimes.co.kr