Art Galleries and Museums in Jeju Island, South Korea
Jeju Island is famous for its scenery and cultural identity. It also hosts several art galleries and museums that have been established to promote the art and history of the island. These cultural institutions provide visitors with an opportunity to experience the island's artistic and historical perspectives.
Jeju Museum of Art
The museum under review is the Jeju Museum of Art, located in Jeju City, and offers the viewers contemporary art. The museum has a wide range of modern and contemporary art pieces from Korean artists and artists from other parts of the world. It also has temporary exhibitions, education, and art activities for individuals to popularize art among the people. The structure of the Jeju Museum of Art is fully integrated into the landscape environment and becomes an addition to the art perception (Jeju Museum of Art).
Jeju Folklore & Natural History Museum
The Jeju Folklore & Natural History Museum gives visitors a general idea of Jeju’s cultural and historical backgrounds. The museum has many sections that depict the aspects of Jeju’s traditional way of life, agriculture, fishing, housekeeping, and more. Objects of the Jeju people, like clothing, tools, and utensils, give an idea of the living culture in Jeju. Also, the museum has a collection of geological and biological specimens of the island's flora, fauna, and volcanic structures (Jeju Special Self-Governing Province).
Bonte Museum
Located in Seogwipo City, the Bonte Museum is an art and culture theme park that covers Korea's traditional and modern art. The name ‘Bonte’, derived from the Korean word meaning ‘essence’ or ‘root’, signifies the museum’s role of digging into the root of Korean art. Exhibits located in Bonte Museum are traditional craft, modern art, and unique art and nature installation exhibits. The actual edifice of the museum was designed by the famous architect Tadao Ando, which adds to the value of the museum (Bonte Museum).
Jeju Stone Park
Jeju Stone Park is one of Jeju’s cultural and ecological parks that focuses on stones and legends connected with Jeju. The park has a large number of natural and carved stones that have stories behind them and are considered the main attraction. There are several themed areas devoted to the role of stones in the folklore and traditions of Jeju. The park also contains other halls for exhibitions of artworks and cultural properties associated with the stone culture of Jeju (Jeju Stone Park).
Conclusion
Art galleries and museums of Jeju Island are presented as a diverse and exciting cultural and art space. The Jeju Museum of Art, the Jeju Folklore & Natural History Museum, and other similar establishments are part of Jeju’s cultural landscape and play an essential role in the island’s cultural life. Tourists can fully engage in the art and history of Jeju Island and develop their understanding of the Island’s culture.
References
“Jeju Museum of Art.” Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, jejumuseum.go.kr.
“Jeju Folklore & Natural History Museum.” Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, museum.jeju.go.kr.
“Bonte Museum.” Bonte Museum, bontemuseum.com.
“Jeju Stone Park.” Jeju Stone Park, jejustonepark.com.