SeMA Nam Seoul Living Arts Museum

Nestled within the bustling heart of Seoul, the SeMA Nam Seoul Living Arts Museum awaits. It’s not just a museum, but a living testament to history and art. The SeMA Nam Seoul Living Arts Museum resides in a beautiful colonial building. This building, dating back to 1901, once served as the Belgian consulate. Today, it houses an ever-changing array of exhibits. The SeMA Nam Seoul Living Arts Museum embraces its “living arts museum” identity. It showcases diverse collections, from furniture and design to captivating art installations. The museum’s history adds another layer to its charm. In 2004, the former consulate was remodeled into the Nam Seoul Annex Building of SeMA. Initially, it served as white cube spaces. Later, it transitioned into a living arts museum. A significant restoration in 2015 marked the building’s 110th anniversary. This restoration revealed the building’s original architectural features. The “Evolved Museum: the former Belgian Consulate” exhibition in 2015 explored this transformation. The exhibition had two parts. The first part delved into the building’s history and character. The second part showcased artists’ reinterpretations of the building and its surroundings. This exhibition blended history, architecture, and cultural preservation. Artists like Sangdon Kim, Noh Sangho, IM Heung-soon, Chang Hwa-jin, Shan Hur, and SSAV group participated. They used various mediums to express their perspectives. These mediums included painting, sculpture, video, photography, and installation. The SeMA Nam Seoul Living Arts Museum offers more than just exhibitions. It once hosted “Atelier with Stoves”. This exhibition showcased a remarkable collection of antique stoves alongside the works of Korean artists Chang Hwa-jin and Kim Tai-ho. The stoves, originating from Korea, Japan, Europe, and the USA, represented both practicality and artistry. Chang Hwa-jin’s tile floor painting stood out. It drew inspiration from the museum’s antique tiles, merging past elements with contemporary art. Kim Tai-ho’s minimalist works emphasized the importance of “emptiness”. Visiting the SeMA Nam Seoul Living Arts Museum is a journey through time and art. It’s a place where history whispers and creativity thrives.