Unique Exhibition on ‘Yangcheon-gu Guardian Wooden Sculpture’ Theme Held at Omokhan Art Museum

Invitation Exhibition of Local Young Artist Gong Hyeonjin's Wood Carving Works 'A Heart Serving the Tree' Held for One Month Until March 15
Expressing Wishes and Prayers of Yangcheon as Guardian Spirits, Featuring Fun Works like Ae-eosin, Gongdeuntapsin, and Namuabisin... Open Weekdays and Weekends 10 AM to 7 PM Except Mondays and Holidays, No Reservation or Admission Fee Required

Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Lee Gi-jae) is hosting an invitational exhibition of local young artists at the newly renovated Yangcheon-gu ‘Omokhan Art Museum’ until March 15.

This is the second exhibition since the museum opened last December, featuring local young artist Gong Hyun-jin, adding special significance. Especially, under the theme of ‘A Heart That Serves Trees,’ the exhibition showcases unique wooden sculptures embodying the wishes of Yangcheon residents, capturing visitors’ attention.

The museum displays about 50 diverse works, ranging from life-sized large pieces to small props.

Key exhibited works include ▲ Ae-eo-sin (神), an elder steadfastly tracing their genealogy amid the fierce educational zeal of Mok-dong ▲ Gongdeuntapsin (神), a tower-shaped figure symbolizing the energy of mothers radiating educational passion and vitality throughout Yangcheon ▲ Namuabisin (神), created to honor the old trees of Yangcheon ▲ Dwaenyangisin (神), made with hopes for the safety of Yangcheon’s stray cats, among many other intriguing pieces.

The district stated, “Through various wooden sculptures inspired by Korean folk beliefs, the museum conveys meanings of warding off bad energy and praying for blessings to visitors,” adding, “Especially, in celebration of the Year of the Blue Dragon, experiential programs wishing for a prosperous year are also prepared, allowing visitors to enjoy the exhibition in diverse ways.”

Additionally, Gong Hyun-jin, who holds a Ph.D. in Arts from Chung-Ang University and was awarded a special prize at the 23rd MBC+ Korea Figurative Sculpture Competition, explained the background of her work: “Historically, people have created wooden sculptures like Jangseung and Kkokdu, each embodying their own wishes and hopes. I observed the wishes of local residents and imagined the guardian deities of Yangcheon-gu, expressing them through wooden sculptures.”

Omokhan Art Museum is closed every Monday and on public holidays, and open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and weekends. No separate reservation or admission fee is required to view the exhibition.

Remodeled from a woodworking workshop building, Omokhan Art Museum was created on a 120㎡ scale within a park in the central commercial district, aiming to add a cultural appreciation space to residents’ daily lives by utilizing the spatial characteristics of the park.

For its opening exhibition, the Yangcheon Art Association presented diverse exhibition content including painting, media, and three-dimensional art. Going forward, various monthly exhibitions are planned to provide residents with refined cultural experiences.

Lee Gi-jae, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, said, “In the Year of the Blue Dragon, we hold this special wooden sculpture exhibition embodying the wishes of our residents to pray for blessings throughout the year,” and added, “I hope this place will establish itself as a representative museum of Yangcheon-gu where culture and art harmoniously blend, allowing residents to enjoy diverse leisure activities.”