Seocho-gu Holds 'Musical Instrument Making Exhibition' Near Seoul Arts Center

Exhibition of Handmade String Instruments from 16th to 23rd at 'Seoripul Youth Art Gallery'... Five Emerging and Excellent String Instrument Makers Active in Seocho Music Culture District, the Only One in Korea, Participate... Linked with 2023 Seoripul Festival

A venue where visitors can view and experience string instruments made by instrument makers will be set up around the Seoul Arts Center area in Seocho-gu, the only music culture district in the country.

Seocho-gu (Mayor Jeon Seong-su) and the Seocho Cultural Foundation (CEO Kang Eun-kyung) will hold the ‘2023 Seoripul Instrument Making Exhibition’ from the 16th to the 23rd at the Seoripul Youth Art Gallery (1, Nambusunhwan-ro 323-gil, Seocho-gu).

The district organized the exhibition to provide emerging string instrument artisans with an opportunity to showcase their hidden talents and to lower the barriers to classical music, which is often perceived as difficult.

This exhibition will be held in conjunction with the urban music festival ‘2023 Seoripul Festival,’ which takes place over two days from the 16th along Banpo-daero, the core area of classical music.

This year, under the theme ‘Special Exhibition of Emerging String Instrument Makers,’ five young string instrument artisans in their 30s with less than 5 to 10 years of experience will participate. They have completed studies at overseas string instrument making schools in countries such as the United States and Italy and are active in instrument workshops located in the Seoripul Instrument Street near Banpo-daero.

The exhibition will showcase over 20 instruments, including violins, violas, and cellos, all handcrafted, along with 131 accessories and related materials. Additionally, the emerging instrument makers will explain the instrument-making process to visitors. Visitors can closely observe the instruments, play them themselves, and compare the sounds.

During the exhibition period, in addition to viewing string instruments, participatory programs such as consultations on unused instruments and instrument-making experiences will be offered, providing visitors with engaging sights and activities.

From the 19th to the 22nd, a ‘Free Consultation Center for Unused Instruments’ will operate. Visitors can bring their old unused instruments to the exhibition venue, where instrument artisans will provide personalized advice on basic repairs and maintenance methods. Consultations will be held daily from 11 a.m., each lasting about 20 minutes per individual.

Also, on the 17th at 10:30 a.m., a ‘Meeting with Instrument Makers’ will be held for about two hours. Visitors can resolve their questions about string instruments through in-depth conversations with the artisans.

From the 19th to the 22nd, an ‘Instrument Making Experience Class’ will be conducted for elementary school students. A total of 40 participants, forming teams of parents and students, will create ‘My Own Violin’ with the makers, creating lasting memories. Each session will accommodate 10 participants and will last about an hour starting at 5 p.m.

Meanwhile, the Seoripul Youth Art Gallery is located in an underground pedestrian passage that was created during the construction of the Seoul Arts Center but had been neglected for 20 years. In 2018, the district transformed this space into a venue offering various opportunities for young artists.

For more details, please visit the Seocho-gu Office website or contact the Seocho-gu Office’s Culture and Tourism Division or the Seocho Cultural Foundation.

Jeon Seong-su, Mayor of Seocho-gu, said, “Through this exhibition, we will introduce the instruments of emerging string instrument makers and actively support young instrument makers to establish their presence and develop within the Seocho Music Culture District.”