Hannam-dong has long been considered one of the best residential areas in Seoul, conveniently located at the heart of the city, flanked by Mt. Namsan and the Han River. Located near Itaewon, a well-known and ethnically diverse area, Hannam-dong has remained primarily a foreign residential area, while preserving its unique and cozy atmosphere.
However, with the recent opening of Comme des Garçons’s artsy flagship store and the rise of other modern architectural features in the area, more travelers and curious Seoulites are visiting Hannam-dong‘s new shopping and art centers.
Whether you’re a resident or just visiting, be sure to swing by and discover the artistic delights of Hannam-dong!
Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art (Address: 747-18, Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul)
Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art has been home to the finest art from the Samsung Foundation’s collection since its grand opening in 2004. Located in a hilly residential area, the museum showcases an impressive collection of cultural treasures and modern works of art in its innovative complex, designed by three of the world’s most internationally acclaimed architects: Mario Botta, Jean Nouvel and Rem Koolhaas.
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Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art (photograph by Lee HanKoo) |
Artworks on display include everything from historic Korean Buddhist paintings and celadon to masterpieces by Mark Rothko, Gerhardt Richter and Nam June Paik. With both contemporary and modern works, the exhibits demonstrate Korea’s rich culture and heritage. The museum endeavors to support a wide array of cultural and artistic activities, as well as academic research on the past, present and future of art practices.
Leeum is holding a special exhibition entitled, “Memories of the Future,” from August 26 through February 13 of next year. It showcases cutting-edge works by Korean and international artists, including Sophie Calle, Michael Lin, Shin Meekyoung, Gimhongsok and Jackson Hong.
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Memories of the Future (Courtesy of Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art) |
To help audiences better understand contemporary art, the museum gives daily docent tours and has PDA digital guides available for rent for 2,000 won. English tours are available on weekends.
Admissions costs 5,000 won for adults, and a day pass with access to both permanent and special exhibitions is 12,000 won. Discounts are available for groups of 20 people or more and for students under 18 years of age. The museum is closed on Mondays.
For more information, please visit the official website at: www.leeum.org (Korean, English) or call 02-2014-6901.
Comme des Garçons Flagship Store Hannam (Address: 739-1 Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul)
Last August, Comme des Garçons opened its first Korean flagship store to house all 13 Comme des Garçons lines.
Designed by Rei Kawakubo, who launched the brand in 1981 with the “Paris” collection, the new building features the brand’s iconic dotty glass façade. Its seven stories are linked by sloping tunnels where special products and “not-for-sale” hats designed by Stephen Jones are displayed.
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Comme des Garçons Flagship Store Hannam (Courtesy of Samsung Cheil Industries Inc.) |
Kawakubo’s avant-garde designs are beautifully displayed in the retail spaces. Comme des Garçons also has a bakery on the ground floor. The basement houses the SIX Gallery, where David Lynch’s “Darkened Room,” is being shown along with a selection of short films and paintings by the famous director. Admission is free.
b_shop (Address: 739-4 Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul)
b_shop is a concept store run by fashion designer and visual marketing director Park Suuwu and architect Ehwa Yoo.
The store wants to promote a new modern Korean lifestyle through a space where organic gastronomy and eco-friendly fashion merge. Aside from the wonderfully decorated restaurant, the project space offers a wide range of designer arts and crafts which combine the essence of Korean traditional crafts with modern styles.
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b_shop (photograph by Hwang Dana) |
The concept store also has the newest SUUWU collections by Park Suuwu. SUUWU launched in 2009, and blends Korean traditional aesthetics with modern styles. What makes SUUWU special is its use of Hanji, a traditional Korean mulberry paper, as the basis for a wearable modern garment.
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SUUWU Collection and b_shop (photograph by Hwang Dana) |
Meanwhile, b_shop organized its first art exhibition in August, a solo show by Itami Jun called “Prototype,” and plans to host more exhibitions in the future.
To learn more, please visit the official website at www.suuwu.com or www.parkplusyoo.com (English).
Takeout Drawing (Address: 683-139 Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul)
Takeout Drawing opened on May 22 in Hannam-dong. The new store is the third, following the original Seongbuk-dong space and Arko Art Center branch.
Project Space Takeout Drawing is a multifunctional cultural space serving up both organic fair-trade coffee and a creative environment. The café also functions as an exhibition space where everyday life coincides with arts and culture in a sustainable way.
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Takeout Drawing Hannam-dong (photograph by Hwang Dana) |
So far, it has hosted 24 exhibitions and run residency programs giving artists two months to use the space to create their works. Unlike other institutionalized art residency programs, the process here integrates the audience/consumers who visit the café. At the end of the residency program, the works created during that time are exhibited in the café.
Takeout Drawing is currently holding their 24th drawing exhibition, including the installation piece, “Shadow City” and the publication project, “Map for Unrealized City,” by So-young Jung. The exhibition continues through December 5.
For more information, please visit the official website at www.takeoutdrawing.com (Korean, English).
Other places of interest
Aside from the many restaurants and cafes in Hannam-dong, a large-scale concert hall is being built near Hanganjin Subway Station. Work is expected to be completed by November 2011. The hall is designed by Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa, recipients of the 2010 Pritzker Architecture Prize and designers of New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York City.
By Hwang Dana
Korea.net Staff Writer
By Hwang Dana
Korea.net Staff Writer
