Escape the Summer Heat: A Date at the Lee Ungno Museum in Daejeon
Escaping the scorching summer sun, we've found today's indoor date spot: the Lee Ungno Museum.
Even if you're not an art expert, spending time at a museum and appreciating paintings can be quite enjoyable, right?
It's refreshing and gives you a change of pace.
The Lee Ungno Museum is located on Dunsan-daero in Seo-gu, Daejeon, right in the heart of Daejeon's date scene, with the Daejeon Arts Center and Hanbat Arboretum all nearby.
It first opened its doors in 2007.
Already, it's been nearly 20 years – quite an established museum!
Yet, its sleek architecture and pristine interior make it seem like time hasn't touched it at all.
The museum was designed by Laurent Beaudouin, a French architect closely associated with Lee Ungno's life and work.
At the time, it was one of only two structures he designed in the East Asian region, raising expectations significantly.
It's said that the design reflects Lee Ungno's artistic world, and it's clear that a work crafted with such care from the beginning retains its sophistication even after time passes.
The museum offers both permanent exhibitions of Lee Ungno's works and various special exhibitions.
Furthermore, it hosts diverse programs, including art contests for children, key ring making workshops as a special summer vacation program, and art workshops.
This allows the citizens of Daejeon to share and learn about Lee Ungno's artistic world together.
Current exhibitions include the permanent exhibition, 'Lee Ungno, Abstraction Woven with Characters,' and the special exhibition, 'Shin Jung-deok, Abstraction, Life.'
The exhibition space isn't divided into right and left wings; instead, it's structured so you can walk around in a loop.
Starting with Lee Ungno's exhibition, you naturally transition to the special exhibition as you walk along, eventually leading you to the exit, making the entire experience very convenient.
Lee Ungno first gained recognition for his 'Four Gentlemen' paintings and began painting ink wash landscapes.
He gained prominence in various art exhibitions and traveled to Japan, where he learned Japanese painting techniques and broadened his artistic skills.
Later, he ventured to Germany for an international challenge and eventually settled in France, where he broke free from the limitations of ink wash painting and presented groundbreaking works through collage with Western aesthetics.
Even with little knowledge of art, it's immediately apparent that 'the harmony of ink and color is unlike any other artwork, with a unique blend of Eastern and Western influences.'
The following special exhibition showcases the artistic world of Shin Jung-deok, an artist who devoted his entire life to abstract painting based in Daejeon.
The exhibition can be seen as presenting another possibility for inheriting the artistic spirit of Lee Ungno, who developed works called 'New Style' while showcasing various abstract styles.
After completing the circuit of the exhibition, you can enjoy a cup of tea at a small café or purchase merchandise related to Lee Ungno's works at the art shop.
It wasn't grand or large, but it had a quiet, serene charm.
It seems like a great place to go on a casual museum date.
No comments yet.
