In April 1990, Moran Museum of Art opened as the only sculpture art museum in the country. It is a space established to exhibit, plan, and introduce outstanding modern artworks from both within Korea and worldwide, thus striving to make the art culture popular among the public and more deeply rooted in the society.

The highlight of Moran Museum of Art is its outdoor sculpture park over a broad, 8,600-pyeong land. About 110 pieces of sculptures are installed here, which is large enough for children to freely run around and between the artworks, and it is regarded as one of the largest sculpture gardens in the Seoul Metropolitan Area.

The Main Building where indoor exhibitions are held is constituted of three exhibition halls and five exhibition spaces, and typically hosts planned exhibits and permanent exhibits through which the trends of the Korean modern art may be viewed. From the simple and clean interior of the exhibition halls, the windows stand out over other elements. Light coming in through the windows gorgeously shine the artworks inside, and the beautiful outdoor exhibition space seen through the semicircular window becomes another piece of art.

One of the artworks that Moran Museum of Art owns is the <Balzac> statue by Auguste Rodin. It was donated by Mrs. Bahn Cheong-ja in 2010 and, for research and investigation of the <Balzac> plaster cast, written inquiries were made to Louvre Museum, Rodin Museum, and the French National Museum Association (Réunion des musées nationaux – Grand Palais), from which the conclusion was reached that Rodin’s <Balzac> is a plaster cast manufactured by using the original work by Rodin.

Moran Museum of Art has been putting much effort into the growth of the Korean modern arts. To nurture young artists of Korea, it has founded the “Moran Sculpture Awards,” which reviews and awards artists who are 40 years of age or younger by recommendations from the nine recommendation members. Also, <Today’s Korean Sculpture Festival Series> is consistently planned to reflect on the history of modern Korean sculpture and seek the direction to which it needs to head in the future. “I in the Novel, You in the Poem – Sand Play Pottery Class (2004),” a fresh attempt over the boundaries of art, and “SHOW_FASHION (2008)”, fashion and art as an intermediate zone where body and world meet, were a couple of the planned exhibitions from which the endless challenge-facing spirit and passion of Moran Museum of Art could be witnessed.

Moran Museum of Art also runs experience education programs for the general public, especially the children, to encounter arts more easily. Children’s education programs include imagination art for children not yet enrolled in elementary schools and open art classes for younger elementary school students. The experience programs for everyone who visits Moran Museum of Art offer mug cup painting, eco bag stamps, stamp tour, unique badge making, etc. at all times and are constituted of contents that anyone may enjoy (with a fee).

Written and photos by Kim Sun-joo

TIP.

* Cultural Wednesdays held on the last Wednesday every month offer free admission to individuals and family visitors

Groups are subject to 20% discount (20 people or more).

* Baeknyeondang in front of Pond 1 is set up as a seminar room where you may read a book and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea for a relaxing time.

Website http://www.moranmuseum.org/

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