Jongno-gu Begins Branding of "Kim Chang-Yeul's House"
Transformation of the "Water Drop Painter's" Residence into a Public Cultural Facility Underway
The home of the late artist Kim Chang-Yeul, famous as the "Water Drop Painter," located in Pyeongchang-dong, will be transformed into a public cultural facility and opened to the public.
Jongno-gu has started construction to create the 'Kim Chang-yeol Painter's House,' aiming to open it early next year. Rendering. Provided by Jongno-gu.
Jongno-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Jeong Munheon) announced on the 3rd that it has decided to convert Kim's Pyeongchang-dong residence into a public cultural facility called "Kim Chang-Yeul Atelier" and began remodeling construction last December. The goal is to open it early next year.
Since the success of his solo exhibition in 1973 centered on water drops, Kim painted with a single theme throughout his life, gaining worldwide fame. In September 2020, the district signed an agreement with Kim's son, Kim Simong, and purchased the residence in 2022. The home served as the artist’s living and working space for over 30 years until his passing in 2021.
Kim commissioned architect Woo Kyu-Seung, who designed the National Asia Culture Center, Hwanggi Museum of Art, and the 1988 Olympic Village apartments, to build the house in 1984. The building does not separate living and working spaces; the above-ground floors serve as living areas, while the basement is used as the studio. The house has been recognized for its historical and artistic value, as well as its potential to revitalize the local economy upon opening, and was registered as Seoul’s Excellent Architectural Asset No. 13.
The remodeling design of the artist’s house was undertaken by Platform Architecture (Director Hong Jae-Seung), who also designed the Jeju Provincial Kim Chang-Yeul Museum. After extensive consideration to reinterpret the artist’s private space as a public one while conveying the traces of Kim Chang-Yeul’s life, work, and history, the design for all phases was completed last year.
The core space of Kim Chang-Yeul’s house is the underground studio, where indirect light enters through a circular skylight in the roof. During his lifetime, Kim stated, “I prefer not to let light into the atelier for my work. I rely thoroughly on the inner light in a cave-like place.” Accordingly, Jongno-gu plans to faithfully recreate and exhibit the canvases, paints, brushes, and books he used in this special space.
Additionally, Jongno-gu has begun branding work for Kim Chang-Yeul’s house. In May last year, they completed the development of the MI (Museum Identity) reflecting the space’s identity and brand value, and are working on restoration and photo/video content production for 2,608 works and materials donated by the family. They also plan to publish a record book documenting the entire house establishment project and related materials.
District Mayor Jeong Munheon stated, “Kim Chang-Yeul’s residence, one of the cultural assets representing the Creative Arts Village outside Jahamun, will be reborn as a public cultural and artistic facility for everyone. We will spare no effort to ensure it becomes a beloved space not only in Korea but also among art enthusiasts worldwide.”
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