Japanese Horror Manga Artist Junji Ito Horror House Exhibition
Until September 8, Hongdae DUEX
An immersive experience exhibition recreating the major works of Junji Ito (伊藤潤二), a leading Japanese horror manga artist, titled 'Junji Ito Horror House' will be held at DUEX in Mapo-gu, Seoul.
Junji Ito is a manga artist who has captivated readers worldwide beyond Japan through various works ranging from short stories to series such as 'Tomie,' 'Uzumaki,' and 'Souichi's Diary of Delights.'
In Korea, Junji Ito gained popularity through the publication of works like 'Junji Ito Masterpieces' and 'Junji Ito Horror Manga Collection.' Many of his works have also been adapted into live-action films and animations, earning him great fame. The 2023 Netflix release 'Junji Ito Maniac' attracted global fans' attention with 20 animated episodes across 12 installments.
This exhibition has landed in Korea after stops in Taiwan, Thailand, and Malaysia. The exhibition consists of two experience zones and one original artwork zone.
The experience zones lead visitors into the world of horror through five works themed around revenge: 'Hair Under the Roof,' 'Library Phantom,' 'Tunnel Ghost Story,' 'Tomie: Photo,' and 'The Unbearable Maze.' Another zone, themed around evil (惡), offers a chilling horror experience based on 'Groaning Drainpipe,' 'Headless Statue,' 'Souichi's Pet,' and 'The Bullying Child.'
In the two experience zones, live actors perform to provide an immersive sensation as if the characters from the works are coming to life. Groups of 5 to 10 people hold onto a rope and enter the exhibition space. Due to the nature of the exhibition, midway quit buttons are installed throughout for visitors who may feel uneasy. Pressing the button summons staff to guide the visitor out to the rear of the experiential area.
The exhibition organizers explained that the immersive production?featuring darkroom doors and books at visitors’ feet, as if stepping into Junji Ito’s manga?maximizes the sense of fear, with an average of 3 to 4 groups per day pressing the midway quit button during their visit.
In the original artwork zone, visitors can see original drawings from the author’s representative work 'Uzumaki.' The exhibition includes precious materials rarely seen before, such as drawings personally created by the author, along with an interview video where the author sincerely explains the meanings embedded in each work.
Special merchandise for the exhibition is also noteworthy. In addition to popular goods imported from Taiwan, specially produced keyrings, stickers, pouches, and magic mugs made in Korea are sold. The food zone features a Tomie character with two faces presented as a two-flavored ade. Foods symbolizing each episode, such as Baumkuchen with patterns reminiscent of the maze from the works, also catch the eye. A self-service four-cut photo booth is set up next to the caf?.
The visiting hours are from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and the exhibition is open to visitors aged 14 and older (middle school students and above).
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