Seoul Museum of Craft Art - The First Craft Art Museum in Korea that Connects Traditional and Modern Daily Life

 

"Let's see how Pungmun Girls' High School has changed!"

Seoul Museum of Craft Art, which opened on July 15, 2021, was built at the former Pungmun Girls' High School. Prior to Pungmun Girls' High School, King Sejong built the house of his son, Prince Yeongung. This was the place where King Sejong passed away. In the late Joseon Dynasty, it was a place with a lot of history - it was Andong Palace (Anguk-dong Palace) built by King Gojong for the wedding procedure of King Sunjong. In addition, Anguk-dong was also the place where studios that supplied high-quality craftworks to royal families and noble person located since the Joseon Dynasty.

Doesn't craftwork have the power to make daily life special? Located in a historical area, Seoul Museum of Craft Art plays an important role to connect traditional and modern daily lives through craft.

Seoul Museum of Craft Art 

As soon as you get off at Anguk Station (Subway Line 3)  Exit 1, you can see Seoul Museum of Craft Art. The museum remodeled five buildings of Pungmun Girls' High School, and expanded two more buildings - the information building and a Hanok space (currently under construction), which adds up to a total of seven areas. The craft yard, which used to be a school playground, had no fences or doors, so anyone can take a rest there.

Exhibition Building 1, which is the main building of the museum that connects the other buildings as one. The appearance of Pungmun Girls' High School in the past remains.

How to make reservation for Seoul Museum of Craft Art?

This place is open to everyone, but if you want to visit the Seoul Museum of Craft Art, you have to make reservation due to the social distancing rules. However, it might not be easy to get reservation. It is a popular place that was opened earlier in July. There isn't many slots available per day, so you may need to make reservation a month before. 

Reservation can be made on the official website of Seoul Museum of Craft Art, by selecting a slow between 10:00 - 18:00, Tuesday to Sunday (6 slots available; maximum 90 per slot; 80 mins per slot).

You can only enter the museum 10 mins before your reservation time. If you wish to visit the Children's museum, you need to make reservation separately.

Let's start from Exhibition Building 3

When you arrive at the museum, firstly, you need to check your reservation at the information desk located on the first floor of Exhibition Building 3. Exhibition Building 3-dong consists of sarangbang, permanent exhibition room, visible storage and others. In the permanent exhibition hall of Exhibition Building 3, there are on-going exhibition named Embroidery in Bloom and Bojagi, Embracing Daily Life.

At the "Embroidery in Bloom" exhibition hall, you can enjoy the three-dimensional characteristics of embroidery that are different from paintings through the embroidery folding screen. Embroidered vase is considered valuable gift because it is used to pray for peace. Grape bonsai was embroidered in Autumn, lotus bonsai in Summer, plum blossoms and camellia bonsai in Winter, and five petal bonsai in Spring.

Heo Donghwa (1926-2018), who was a collector, museum director, and artisan, devoted his life to collecting embroidery and bojagi. Mr. Heo Donghwa donated about 5,000 collections, including embroidery and bojagi collected during his lifetime, to the Seoul Craft Museum.

Bojagi (fabric) is used to store, decorate and carry things easily. When did Koreans start using bojagi? It can be seen from the record of Hongpok in the story of Yukgaya's founder in Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms that it has been used for a long time.

The handmade bojagi is made of patterns with red dye on which fabric.

The Embroidery Bojagi contains many trees and birds with strong contemporary colors.

Double goose is one of the best gifts to give to newlyweds. It is more elegant if you tie it with a Bojagi  and give it as a gift. Inside the exhibition hall, you can try tying the goose bojagi or book bojagi.

The reason why Seoul Museum of Craft Art become famous on social media is because of the scenery of Seoul that can be seen through the window. It lighting is good and warm in front of the window, and it become a photo zone.

The special exhibition hall on the 3rd floor of Exhibition Building 1 was showing "Craft, Moving Beyond Time and Boundaries" when we visited.

A small table to put bowls and other things, and it can be lifted and moved around. It is a practical furniture but in modern times, it emphasizes the artistic aspect to match the space / room, making your life more special. Nowadays, many people are attracted to aesthetic as much as practicality. Isn't this what modern crafts are like?

The moon jar was a nickname for the 18th-century Joseon Dynasty white large porcelain jar as it is white and round like full moon. The two bowls are made by using the spinning wheel and attached to face each other up and down. In order to complete the round shape, it is said that high-level skills are required.

In modern times, craftworks use new techniques such as synthetic materials (for example, plastic and plywood), working with 3D printer and others. It is creating a unique modern ceramic culture.

Don't you think our daily lives become more special and outstanding thanks to the artisans who pursue new materials and technologies without following just the traditional techniques?

In the exhibition room on the 2nd floor of Exhibition Building 1 and 2, there is permanent exhibition entitled "Artisans, Making the Better World". During the Japanese colonial era, craftwork was popular as tourism item, and capitalists participated in the production and selling of craftwork. They began to distribute it through department stores or shops.

These are celadon incense burner made in Japanese colonial era by imitating the Goryeo period celadon. You can try smelling the scent.

The local craft room on the first floor of Exhibition Building 2 displays craftwork made by craftsmen and artisans of intangible cultural assets in Seoul. The above photo is showing the Somokjang (Wood Furniture Making) workshop and tools of Artisan Shim Yongsik.

[Information about Seoul Museum of Craft Art]

1.Getting There: At AREX Seoul Station, transfer to Subway Line 1 - At Jongno 3-ga Station, transfer to Subway Line 3 - Get off at Anguk Station Exit 1, Walk 4 mins

2.Address: 4 Yulgok-ro 3-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

3.Contact Number: +82-2-6450-7000

4.Operating Hours: Tues - Sun 10:00 - 18:00 (Closed on Mondays)

5.Admission: Free (Reservation is needed)

6. Reservation tips: Visit Seoul Museum of Craft Art website (https://craftmuseum.seoul.go.kr/main),
select the time you wish to visit between 10:00 - 18:00 (6 slots; maximum 90 per slot; 80 mins per slot).

Please make reservation at least 3 weeks in advance. It is less crowded on weekday afternoon as compared to weekend. You can only enter the museum 10 mins before your reservation time. If you wish to visit the Children's museum, you need to make reservation separately.

※ The above information is subject to change.