A Visit to Seonhyewon: Kimsooja's 'Breath' Exhibition
I've been visiting Samcheong-dong quite a bit this week.
This time, I went to Seonhyewon.
‘Seonhyewon’ was the private residence of the founder of the SK Group. It was not open to the public until recently, when it was newly renovated and reborn as a research institute.
I made a reservation to visit the 'Breath' exhibition by artist Kimsooja, which marks the beginning of the Seonhyewon Art Project 1.0.
Reservations can be made for free through Naver Booking. Note that the exhibition ends around October, so I highly recommend visiting through reservation at least once (many same-day cancellations become available).
Taking bus No. 11 from Namdaemun Market and getting off at the Financial Training Institute bus stop, it's right in front of you after crossing the crosswalk.
Seonhyewon has revealed its appearance.
The rain made it even more charming.
It's so wonderful and enviable to hold a solo exhibition in such a picturesque place.
The exhibition has a total of 3 chapters:
1. Gyeongheunggak - Mirror
2. Bottari (2022)
3. Deductive Object - Bottari (2023) / Stitching the Earth: Invisible Needle, Invisible Thread
First is Gyeongheunggak. This is the most famous work using mirrors. The floor is filled with mirrors, creating an immersive space.
Entering the interior:
This is the space that appears.
The mirror makes the space look expanded, and it was a new perspective and approach being able to see the top and inside clearly and up close.
Above all, the grandeur and tranquility of the traditional Korean house felt doubled, making the immersion significant, and the silence was wonderful.
By the way, with a mirror on the floor like this, it seems best to avoid wearing a skirt.
The grandeur doubled by the mirror.
The ceiling is also high.
The windows are pretty too.
The next chapter is located downstairs on the basement floor, accessible by elevator.
There are two elevators, with the left one representing the sun and the right one representing the moon, as shown in the picture.
In the picture, it just looks like they're attached, but in reality, the size of the sun and moon is so large that it's incredibly grand. The door opens and you can't help but gasp.
The sun elevator is incredibly bright as if a halo is shining, and the moon elevator is dark with only the moon lit.
Even the elevator felt like a work of art, which was wonderful.
The floors were structured like this.
Chapter 2, <Bottari>, is visible when you go down to B1.
Modern art is truly difficult.
When I look at a piece, I need to understand the artist's intention. And I like works that have intention. It's the same when watching a movie.
For example, I want to know why the colors of those bundles are deep pink, light green, and red, whether the shape of the knot has meaning, how many times the bundle is wrapped, and what the intention is. I want to know and am curious about the story that the artist expressed and created.
And I think it's necessary to know, because that's how the process of thinking, interpreting, and accepting it according to the artist's intention is created.
<Bottari> is the result of the act of embracing and intertwining the inside and outside, self and others, memory and history.
In reality, the bundle looks very heavy and rough. I wonder what's inside.
And on the way, I decided to go into the restroom because there was a sign.
The scene that appears when you turn the corner.
Wow.
You are left speechless.
Wow, what kind of restroom is this?
My steps stop automatically.
Isn't this a VIP room? lol
The toilet is an automatic lid toilet, and it's as spacious and luxurious as a studio apartment. The door is also very heavy.
This is a restroom for the disabled, and like the elevator, it seems to represent the sun and moon.
Even the restroom is a tranquil and grand work of art.
Taking the elevator back up,
This time, toward Dongyeoru to see Chapter 3.
Even the path you take is pretty.
Chapter 3 <Bottari>, Stitching the Earth: Invisible Needle, Invisible Thread
Three visible pieces of pottery.
I thought it would have an entrance and be empty inside like real porcelain, but it's one solid stone.
It is said that they collaborated with a German ceramics company.
What is it?
What is the meaning?
Why was it made like this?
It looks like a grain of rice.
And then, looking at the wall,
There is an invisible thread, invisible needle work with needles pierced through clay.
The feeling that the viewer and the work are connected by thread and needlework.
Seeing the holes where the needles have pierced through the white clay, I thought of the feeling of needles pricking and entering a pure white heart, the feeling of wounds one by one on a clean heart. Is this my heart?
It felt like visually expressing pain.
Is this synesthetic feeling?
I felt a painful yet refreshing feeling.
This is the end of the exhibition.
Next, if you go to Dongyeoru, there is a space where you can drink water like a cafe and appreciate the Gyeongheunggak area.
That's the entrance.
Dongyeoru usage time is a maximum of 1 hour.
Everyone was leisurely enjoying the scenery.
The view of Seonhyewon from Dongyeoru.
It's so beautiful and charming.
The clouds were coming down to the mountainside and the sound of rain was rustling, making it the perfect weather to appreciate the traditional Korean house.
I want to live in such a beautiful place. How wonderful would it be to live in harmony with nature in a busy city?
End of my visit to Seonhyewon, where the sound of rain became the background music.
Kimsooja's work and the appearance of Seonhyewon were so Korean and beautiful, and I enjoyed the tranquility so much.
I was even envious of the SK family who lived in such a place.
I want to visit again.
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