Special Exhibition: The Girl Born from Flowers, Thumbelina at Ilwol Arboretum
[Reporter Lee Woon-jung]
The Ilwol Arboretum is currently hosting a special educational and experiential exhibition titled 'The Girl Born from Flowers, Thumbelina' since April 28. This exhibition allows visitors to explore the enchanting world of plants and insects while following the story of Thumbelina.
With the ongoing heatwave, venturing outdoors during the day can be quite challenging, especially when you have children with you. So, on a day when staying indoors felt a bit disappointing, I decided to visit the Ilwol Arboretum for a unique encounter with nature.
As I entered the exhibition greenhouse, the first thing that caught my eye was a large book-shaped sculpture. Usually, one would open a book to read its story, but on this day, it felt as if I was stepping directly into the narrative. The exhibition begins with the scene of Thumbelina being born from a tulip.
The journey continues through various themed spaces: the toad's pond, the garden of insects, the underground world of field mice and moles, the flight with the swallow, and finally, the land of flowers and the flower spirit. Each of the six spaces follows the sequence of the fairy tale, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the story as they stroll through the exhibition.
After Thumbelina is born from a flower, the story leads to the toad's pond. Here, visitors can observe various water lilies and lotus flowers, and in the 'Garden of Insects', they can meet specimens and ecological information about various insects, including beetles from the story, which made the scenes from the tale feel even more vivid.
Thumbelina then travels through the bright pond and enters the underground world. The space where she meets the field mice and moles is dimly lit, portraying roots and creatures underground, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a subterranean realm. I could easily envision Thumbelina staying at her grandmother's house to escape the cold winter.
Exiting the dark space, visitors encounter the sight of a swallow flying, symbolizing Thumbelina's new adventure. This part of the exhibition naturally sparks interest in the migratory patterns of birds according to the seasons.
The final destination is 'The Land of Flowers and the Flower Spirit', where Thumbelina arrives in a warm land and receives a new name, 'Maya'. The story concludes as she is proposed to by the Flower King and becomes the Flower Queen, starting a new life.
Life often presents unexpected challenges and hardships. Watching Thumbelina, who started as a small being, overcome various difficulties to begin a new life in the land of flowers inspired me with hope and courage. Walking through the fairy tale provided me with a moment of warm comfort.
After the exhibition, I explored the adjacent forest garden, which features a tulip photo zone and resting areas, perfect for a brief respite from the midday heat. The Thumbelina-themed spaces extend outdoors as well, with photo zones set up in various locations throughout the arboretum.
If you haven't had enough time to explore the outdoor themed gardens due to the heat, I recommend visiting the visitor center. The first floor features an exhibition zone titled 'The Village of Suwon Made by Trees', where you can learn about the trees and forests embedded in the names of Suwon. The center also includes a plant consultation room, a botanist's room, and a garden shop, making it a great spot to relax and enjoy more information about plants.
Despite the heat, the exhibition was engaging due to its storytelling approach, connecting the plants and insects from the fairy tale with real-life ecological information. It promises to be a delightful experience for children, combining the joy of following a story with learning about nature.
This summer, if you're looking for a nearby fairy tale adventure with your child, consider visiting the Ilwol Arboretum, which is hosting the 'The Girl Born from Flowers, Thumbelina' exhibition until November 15.
Source :https://blog.naver.com/gyeonggi_gov/224374944755
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