Seoul is a shiny metropolis full of skyscrapers and massive underground shopping meccas. During the day, metal and glass windows sparkle while after dark, night markets filled with the aromas of Seoul's many street foods fill the air. Despite the city's ultra-modern appearance, South Korea's history is in the old temples and World Heritage Sites hiding between Seoul's tall buildings and within its perfectly manicured parks. For a crash course on South Korea, old and new, Seoul has a handful of museums with artifacts and artwork that span thousands of years.
History in Three Floors
- According to "The Art Newspaper," Seoul's National Museum of Korea was one 2010's top 10 most-visited museums. The gigantic museum, which displays more than 5,000 years of the country's history, opened its doors in 1945. With almost a quarter of a million works housed within its walls, only about 13,000 are displayed at a given time -- still a massive undertaking for one day. Three floors exhibit items ranging from calligraphy to celadon ceramics with some artifacts dating as far back as 1392. Admission is free, and if you pop in on a Saturday, you can take advantage of one of the museum's special events, such as film screenings or very temporary exhibits.
It's All An Illusion
- Dedicated to interactive 2-D turned 3-D paintings, Seoul's Trickeye Museum is a funky variation from the typical art museum. Visitors can experience the depth effects of the trompe l'oeil technique by interacting with the works on display from different angles. Some paintings invite museum-goers to become part of the paintings by standing at specific angles, creating an illusion that they are part of the work. The Trickeye Museum is a short walk from the Hongik University station and free for adventurers under 3 years old.
Contemporary Art Engagement
- Nestled next to roller coasters and a Wild West-styled frontier village, the capital city's National Museum of Contemporary Art's home is the eccentric theme park Seoul Land. A twisting fun house of sorts, the museum seeks to engage visitors with its unique interior architecture of narrow passages, ramps and installations. With seven permanent galleries displaying the work of both up-and-coming contemporary Korean artists and nationally celebrated talents, this Gyeonggi Province art museum can be a full-day affair.
Art Inspired by Death
- Not your typical sparse, white-walled art space, the Musee Shuim exhibits traditional funerary art within the colorful space of a stately home. On the street of the Hongji-dong neighborhood, Musee Shuim came to life after the death of the founder's husband. Patrons find themselves alongside thick drapes and dark wood floors while chandeliers, colorful wooden figurines and other morbid items, such as a sangyeo, or hearse, populate the open space. More a celebration of life than a dwelling on the deceased, this museum is an intimate look into South Korea's customs toward one of life's most intimate stages.
