A Total of 118 Works Donated by Masters of Modern Art, Including the Late Ha Indu and Ryu Minja
Inheriting the Artistic Spirit of Archiwool Village... Laying the Foundation for Feasibility
Accelerating Toward the 2030 Opening... "Aiming to Establish a Public Cultural Hub"
The construction of the Guri City Art Museum, a long-cherished project of Guri City in Gyeonggi Province, has gained significant momentum thanks to the donation of artworks by masters of Korean modern art.
Mayor Baek Kyunghyun is speaking at the artwork donation agreement ceremony for the construction of the Guri City Art Museum. Provided by Guri City
According to Guri City (Mayor Baek Kyunghyun) on January 17, the city held an "Artwork Donation Agreement Ceremony for the Construction of the Guri City Art Museum" at the mayor's office on January 14. Through this agreement, the city received 80 works by the late master of Korean color abstraction, Ha Indu, and 25 works by his wife, artist Ryu Minja, known for her depictions of Korean Pure Land, thereby formalizing cultural and artistic exchange and cooperation.
Archiwool, Imbued with the Spirit of a Master, Revived as Public Art
Guri City announced that it has secured a total of 118 donated works, including representative paintings of modern Korean art as well as pieces by contemporary media artists such as Kim Changkyum, Lee Dona, and Choi Hyunjoo, who are actively working both domestically and internationally. This has established a crucial foundation for the creation of the Guri City Art Museum.
The acquisition of these collections is regarded as a tangible achievement that fulfills the "stable and differentiated collection" requirement, a core criterion for the feasibility assessment of public art museums demanded by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Gyeonggi Province. Through this, the Guri City Art Museum will establish an expanded public collection system encompassing everything from Korean modern and contemporary painting to artificial intelligence (AI) and media art.
Mayor Baek Kyunghyun is holding a work donation agreement ceremony with officials for the construction of the Guri City Art Museum. Provided by Guri City
In particular, this donation is especially meaningful as it elevates the local significance of Archiwool Village in Guri City-where Ha Indu devoted his final creative passion to the "Soul Flame" series-into a public asset. Furthermore, the establishment of the Guri City Art Museum is expected to serve as a cultural hub where neighbors share warmth and reflect on human life through art and contemplation, even in an age defined by technology and speed.
The Contemplation of Donggureung Meets the Future of Galmae-dong
The Guri City Art Museum is planned to be built within Sanmaru Park in Galmae-dong, with a site area of 33,070 square meters and a total floor area of 4,500 square meters (one basement level and two above-ground floors).
The museum will reinterpret the historical temporality of the nearby UNESCO World Heritage site, Donggureung, through its architectural design, and will be created as a "space for contemplation and healing" that harmonizes with the "Nine Sculptures of Life" to be installed within the park.
By establishing an expanded collection system that encompasses AI and media art, the museum aims to present a "future-oriented, humanities-centered art museum" model where the past, present, and future technologies coexist, going beyond a simple exhibition space.
Aiming for Feasibility Approval in 2026... "An Artistic Playground for Citizens"
Until now, Guri City has been criticized in feasibility assessments for lacking "regional identity" and a "differentiated collection." This large-scale donation is expected to be the decisive key to overcoming these hurdles.
Mayor Baek Kyunghyun is having a conversation with Ryu Minja, the late artist Ha Indu's wife. Provided by Guri City
Based on this achievement, the city plans to pass the Gyeonggi Province public art museum feasibility assessment in the first half of 2026, then accelerate administrative procedures such as the central investment review for local finances, with the goal of opening the museum in 2030.
Mayor Baek Kyunghyun stated, "This donation of artworks is a meaningful achievement that practically demonstrates the competitiveness of the Guri City Art Museum's collection as a public art museum. I deeply thank the family of the late Ha Indu and artist Ryu Minja for donating such valuable works as public cultural assets."
He added, "Based on the secured collection, we will do our utmost to ensure that the Guri City Art Museum becomes a public cultural hub where contemplation, relaxation, and learning coexist in the daily lives of citizens."
The donated works will be officially presented to the public through permanent and special exhibitions once the museum is completed.
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