Arte Museum Jeju: Art or Just Video Playback?
It was raining, so we couldn't go to the arboretum my mom likes. While figuring out where to go, we decided on an art museum. Jeju has just as many art galleries and museums as Seoul. Since we were traveling, we chose Arte Museum as a spot where we could enjoy things a bit more casually.
Arte Museum is run by d'strict, the digital design company behind those 3D display ads you often see on department stores and large buildings these days. Even if you don't know the company's name, you've probably seen their videos of a hyper-realistic waterfall or a giant cat waving from a massive building display. If you check out the link below, they have a lot of pretty fun ads, so take a look.
With the rain drizzling down, it seemed like a lot of people had the same idea as us, and the parking lot was packed with cars. Because of COVID, we had to verify our third vaccine doses and complete a safety check-in before we could enter. The price was 14,000 KRW. I think that's a bit expensive for a museum run by a corporation.
When you walk in, you see artworks on the walls. However, they aren't real physical pieces, but illusions displayed through projectors. It feels a bit like watching a giant TV. Actually, since a lot of people use projectors instead of TVs these days, it doesn't just feel like it—it really is just a giant TV.
The constantly changing spaces and music are impressive, but I'm not sure if this should be considered art. With an open mind, you could say that since people enjoy the space, charging a fee to provide this service is the textbook definition of commercial art. On the flip side, you might feel cheated since nothing is actually hand-drawn and they just set up some projectors. There's no right or wrong here; everyone's own opinion is the answer.
Personally, the most fun space was an area where kids and adults could draw pictures, scan them, and watch their creations appear on the screen to leisurely stroll through a jungle. I enjoyed it the most because it allowed everyone's fun imagination to participate in the fairy-tale-like content. I initially thought there wasn't enough to see, but watching the kids get so absorbed in drawing that they didn't even think about going home made me realize this is a much better place for children than a traditional art museum.
The final space is a cafe. In other museums, the cafe often feels out of place, like a completely separate area. But here, the concept flows naturally, so it feels less like a cafe and more like a continuation of the museum's exhibits. Details like this are a huge plus for this museum.
For some, it will be a place to truly enjoy art in a fun way, while to others, it will just look like an expensive business using projectors. Like I wrote above, there is no right answer—whatever you feel after going and seeing it for yourself is the answer.