By Woo Jae-yeon
The Seo-Seoul Museum of Art (Seo SeMA), the Seoul Museum of Art’s seventh branch, has officially opened its doors! To celebrate, the museum is hosting two inaugural exhibitions: “Breathing,” a special performance-based exhibition, and “Mneme Topos,” a retrospective look at the museum’s founding and development.
“Breathing” showcases the work of 27 contemporary artists and groups working in performance art. The exhibition explores the intricate relationship between humans and their environments, focusing on air and its fluid movements. “Mneme Topos,” a documentary-style exhibition, chronicles the entire journey of Seo SeMA’s creation, from initial planning and construction to its connection with the local community and residents.
The museum’s mission is to be a hub for media art, fostering connections between art, society, and technology. Seo SeMA offers a range of engaging programs in performance, sound, and media art, designed to encourage creative thinking and deepen visitor understanding of the medium.
Located in Doksan-dong, Geumcheon Ward, the three-story building (with two underground floors) occupies 7,186 square meters. The project, which began in 2015, took a decade to realize.
The museum features a single-level layout designed for optimal accessibility. The entrance is level with Geumnarae Park, making it easy and inviting for everyone to enter and explore.
Embracing its vision as a museum for all, Seo SeMA aims to be a welcoming space, seamlessly blending into the surrounding environment. The museum intends to feel like a natural extension of the street, inviting visitors to stroll in as easily as they would a park, creating a relaxed and inclusive atmosphere.
“Breathing” is on view until April 12. “Mneme Topos” is open through April 26, and will then resume from April 28 to July 12.
