Leeum Museum of Art Hosts 'Beautiful Architecture Journey' for Local Youth

Yongsan-gu and Local Youth Participate in Cultural Program

"I just found out that there is an art museum designed by world-renowned architects in Yongsan-gu, where we live. It was fascinating to see three buildings with different designs by three architects gathered in one place."

Lecture on the Architecture of the Leeum Museum of Art
Photo by Leeum Museum of Art

The Leeum Museum of Art is lowering its barriers and breathing together with the local community, transforming into an experiential learning site for local elementary school students.

On the 6th, the Samsung Foundation of Culture's Leeum Museum of Art announced that it held the 'Beautiful Architectural Journey with Youth' program for local youth in Yongsan-gu three times on the 7th and 21st of last month and the 5th of this month.

About 80 participants, including 5th and 6th graders and teachers from Shingwang Elementary School and Cheongpa Elementary School in Yongsan-gu, visited the Leeum Museum of Art to view the museum buildings designed by world-class architects and the ongoing Kang Seokyung solo exhibition.

At the site, Kang Yuwon, curator of the Leeum Museum of Art, introduced the charm of architecture by explaining the differences among the M1 and M2 buildings and the Samsung Child Education & Culture Center, which were designed by Mario Botta, Jean Nouvel, and Rem Koolhaas respectively, along with stories about each architect and how the Leeum Museum was created.

The students showed great interest in the M2 exhibition hall’s exhibition box, which was made of corroded stainless steel?a world-first attempt?and the black box exhibition hall inside the Samsung Child Education & Culture Center building, which is installed as if floating in the air.

In the 'Kang Seokyung Exhibition,' the museum’s art education instructor operated a program using an exhibition-linked workbook for elementary students to help them approach contemporary art more easily.

Elementary school students from Yongsan-gu listening to an employee's explanation at the Leeum Museum of Art exhibition hall.
[Photo by Leeum Museum of Art]

The students sat around Kang Seokyung’s work 'Grandmother Tower,' exploring what materials were used and how it was made. After hearing that the artist created the work to express her grandmother’s stooped figure in memory, they expressed memorable family members or friends through shapes or forms.

Kim Byungsoo, head of the Architectural Planning Team at Yongsan-gu Office’s Architecture Division, said, "This program was planned to help foster local pride and affection by learning about Yongsan-gu’s local landmarks. We are grateful that the Leeum Museum of Art, a landmark of Yongsan-gu, actively collaborated with us to conduct the program tailored to children’s perspectives."

Ryu Munhyung, CEO of the Samsung Foundation of Culture, stated, "It was meaningful to contribute to helping children, the future generation’s protagonists, nurture their dreams through diverse experiences. We will continue to strive to attract more youth to visit the museum."