Giant Spiders

We only had one good day of weather this weekend, as Saturday it poured all day. We must have been getting some remnants of the monsoon that was hanging over Thailand. So Saturday was movie and art project day. I think I watched 6 movies. Sunday however was gorgeous, so with no real destination in mind we wandered up to Itaewon in search of a real American brunch spot, then wandered further up the mountain to the Samsung Museum of Art.

 A delicious brunch of Huevos Rancheros!

We must all remember to laugh out loud, share a good meal and enjoy life!

Halloween is sort of celebrated here in Seoul.

So far I've only found Halloween decorations at Dunkin Doughnuts, but just in
case I want to dress up....so many options!

The Leeum Samsung Museum of Art

The Leeum Samsung Museum of Art is a nicely sized complex halfway up Mt. Namsan (and in the neighborhood where the Chairman of Samsung lives). The museum is comprised of three major facilities designed by three separate architects. Museum 1, designed by Swiss architect Mario Botta houses the traditional Korean art in such categories as Paintings, Calligraphy, Ceramics, and Metal works and Buddhist Art. Museum 2, designed by French architect Jean Nouvel houses Korean and international modern and contemporary art. The third facility is the experimental Samsung Child and Education and Culture Center and was designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas. The museum seemed comparable in size to the Guggenheim, but felt much smaller, like a large private art collection, perfect in size if you're not wanting to spend an entire day at the museum.

 The museum in the shadow of the Grand Hyatt, the fanciest hotel in Seoul.

Entrance

In Museum 1, displayed on 4 floors are 120 representative works in such categories as Paintings and Calligraphy, Ceramics, Metal Works and Buddhist Art. The collection includes gorgeous Celadon ceramics from the Goryeo Dynasty (937-1392),  Buncheong Ware and Porcelain from the Joseon Dynasty and beautifully detailed scroll paintings. The Celadon ceramics were my favorite.

Museum 2 was comprised of more than 70 works from Korean modern art beginning in 1910 and works from international modern art beginning in 1945. The selection of international modern art was impressive and ranged from works by Alberto Giacometti to Francis Bacon, Mark Rothko, Joseph Beuys and Andy Warhol. Falling into the contemporary category were works by Jeff Koons, Damien Hirst and Andreas Gurslky.

There were also works displayed in the public areas of the museum, in the lobby and outside by artists including Donald Judd, Takashi Murakami and Tatsuo Miyajuma. The most impressive were these two giant bronze spiders by Louise Bourgeouis. Perfect for Halloween!

In addition to the permanent collection, we also got to view the exhibition "The Court Painters of the Joseon Dynasty" on view until January. This exhibition was an extensive collection of paintings by Hwawon, who were court painters affiliated with the Dohwaseo (The Bureau of Painting) and also produced excellent pieces in relation with many private painters and patrons. The  Hwawon were responsible for the official and public activities of the dynasty. In addition to creating documentary paintings, they produced decorative paintings, portraits, maps and paintings on ceramics. The detail and scale of the paintings was incredible.

 I snuck this picture of a very interesting feature of the court painters exhibit.

They had digital images of some of the larger works that you could manipulate

by zooming in to view the detail of the work.

This is part of the Child Education and Cultural Center where kids were painting 

and then their works were hung on the wall. What a great idea.

Through this interactive feature, you could super-impose your image

onto a Court Painting of the Joseon Dynasty.

And there we are, a part of the Joseon Dynasty historical record.

"Memories of the Future"....interesting thought.

 

Spider? What spider?

 

 What fantastic Halloween yard art this would make!

Some Fall foliage.

Camouflaged.

I really can't wait for Halloween!