The Seoul Museum of Art has chosen “architecture” as the focal theme for its 2024 exhibition agenda, aligning this decision with significant institutional transformations, including the opening of a new branch and the renovation of the Seosomun Main Branch, seeking to explore the domain of architecture from a multidimensional perspective. A key part of the initiative is to open the exhibition titled Architecture, Space Time Scenarios, which offers a contemplative examination of architecture with an emphasis on the concept of “time.” 

We at SeMA have been led to reflect on the life cycle of architecture amidst the ongoing remodeling of not only the SeMA but also other prestigious museums at home and abroad, along with the redevelopment and reconstruction projects transforming urban landscapes. In the fields of law, public administration, and economics, which exert a direct influence on the processes of constructing, utilizing, and dismantling buildings, the categorization of a building’s life cycle typically revolves around considerations of safety, cost, and environmental impact. Nonetheless, should we conceptualize architecture as an entity that evolves through a myriad of relationships and experiences, akin to human existence, its vigor cannot solely be assessed through tangible phases such as “new construction.” It is because architecture is intricately intertwined with human life, and the vibrancy of architectural forms varies in pace and dimension, influenced by the intensity of its interactions.

Architecture constitutes a foundational aspect of human existence, intimately engaging with our physical selves and constructing layers of narratives encompassing experience, memory, and history. Such narratives, interweaving human actions within the dimensions of space and time, render architecture a fascinating subject through which to examine the tapestry of life. Public art museums, accessible to a broad and indeterminate audience, represent a distinct architectural category with a rich historical lineage, embodying a multitude of stories accumulated over time. The Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA), as a public art museum, finds itself at a critical juncture of architectural emergence and transformation. It faces the imperative to accommodate an increasingly varied audience, to foster engagement, to facilitate shared experiences, and to maintain its dynamism and relevance.

The initial phase involves comprehending the multifaceted narratives that emerge from the interplay among the diverse components constituting the museum: visitors, artworks, institutional frameworks, and programs. This is predicated on the understanding that narratives spanning extensive temporal ranges link the past and present to the impending future. It is imperative to meticulously examine historical contexts and then envision the future for the community, concurrently reimagining and shaping the museum in the contemporary moment. Architecture, Space Time Scenarios will explore architecture through the lens of time, highlighting the dynamic essence of architecture enriched by its deep temporal layers. It aims to generate diverse narratives, delving into how the SeMA can develop a narrative enriched by the depth of their relationships, enabling it to thrive as a lively architectural space.