 Galleria Department Store in Gangnam District is decorated with fairy lamps as are other shops on the Cheongdam Fashion Street, which is turned into a “Street of Light” during winter. / Courtesy of Gangnam District Office |
By Kim Rahn
Cheongdam Street in Gangnam, southern Seoul, is known to be a district for upscale fashion, with luxury designer brand shops lining both sides of the street.
However, not only those seeking high-end fashion but also those interested in fine arts love to stroll the street, as small- and large-scale galleries are clustered there between fashion flagship stores and cafes.
Dozens of galleries are gathered around the 730-meter street from the Cheongdam intersection to the east wing of the Galleria Department Store. Some are on the roadside while others are scattered in the somewhat maze-like alleys.
Shop owners have staged an annual art fair there since 1991, with the latest one being held last October.
On the roadside just near the intersection is a building named NaturePoem, a six-story building housing 15 galleries.
The building itself is artwork — the center is an open space and galleries and other shops surround it.
On the first floor is Opera Gallery. It is one of 12 Opera Gallery branches around the world. Besides its usual exhibits focusing on pop art, the gallery holds about five special exhibitions every year and currently one titled “The Masters” is taking place through the end of the year.
“Some 40 pieces by renowned artists are displayed, mainly from the 19th and 20th century,” said Bella Jung, general manager of the gallery.
The artists whose works are on display include Pablo Picasso, Raoul Dufy, Auguste Rodin, Marc Chagall, Fernand Leger, Auguste Renoir, Henri Matisse, Keith Haring and Andy Warhol.
Other galleries in the building, including Hinz & Kunst, Pyo Gallery South, Johyun Gallery and the Michael Schultz Gallery also show various genres of art, created by both Korean and foreign artists
Besides galleries in NaturePoem, passers-by can encounter others here and there in the alleys. For galleries having their own buildings, including Yoo Art Space and Songeun Art Space, the unique architectural designs of the buildings are also enjoyable.
Sparkling luminaries
Most of the galleries close around 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. But there is more to see outside the galleries on the street, which turns into the “Street of Light” during winter to enhance the holiday mood.
The bulbs and sparkling decorations will light up the street until the end of February.
Gangnam District Office took the lead in the event and set up the lights, while some shops and boutiques also installed their own decorations to emphasize their brands. Maison Cartier, for example, is gift-wrapped with a red ribbon made of bulbs, while the Galleria Department Store’s east wing has a windmill-like decoration.
“The fairy lamp decoration gained good feedback last year when we first adopted it. People said it boosted the luxury image of the street,” a district official said.
He said a growing number of foreign tourists visit the street, which has dozens of flagship stores of name brands such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Omega, Cartier, Giorgio Armani, Prada, Salvatore Ferragamo and Tory Burch, as well as multi-brand shops including 10 Corso Como, Boon the Shop, Koon and Mue.
One more attractive feature of the street is the offices of JYP Entertainment and SM Entertainment. If you are lucky, you may be able to encounter K-pop stars from the agencies.
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