Uijae Museum of Korean Art

Uijae Museum of Korean Art is located on the way up to Mudeunsan (Mountain) near Jeungsim Temple in Gwangju. The Exhibition Cave as the museum building is called has a floating walkway leading to a tea area to enjoy a fragrant green tea before or after a view of the museum. Glass windows in the tea area panel the view of the mountainside, creating a natural painting, just as Master Uijae himself would have painted although in traditional Korean style with paper, ink and brush. The trapezoidal building leads the visitor through the collection in an intuitive meander, as if enjoying the outdoor paths up Mudeunsan.

In the Samaehun Buidling sit on traditional Korean flooring, a lovely warm wonder of ondol heating in the winter while enjoying the scent of Choonsul Tea. Uijae's spirit invites you to spend time in thought and talk about the artists' compositions, using traditional materials with modern subjects.

Korean traditional painters with natural materials of paper, ink and brush chose to paint nature as it is seen with the eye. Historically having sloughed off the Chinese philosophy of utopian paintings of nature, modern Korean artists continue the rebellous tradition of finding their own way to share their experience of modern life through traditional materials.

Special thanks to SooJung for this afternoon adventure. It was also nice to meet Siyon Jin of the Uijae Resident Program. Sharing time and tea in the artists' studio viewing his media presentations of changes in modern life, its confusion, violence and beauty, was a great way to enjoy a chilly winter afternoon. I'm looking forward to the opening of the current resident artists program on December 20, 2006 at 4:30pm.

The Uijae Museum of Korean Art and the Gwangju city government welcomes artists, Korean and international, for four month residencies. This residency program is funded for one year while Gwangju continues its development strategy of becoming an Asian cultural hub.

Check out www.ujamstudio.net