SeMA Modern History Project
Evolved Museum: the former Belgian Consulate

At the closing of the year 2015, the Seoul Museum of Art(SeMA) is hosting SeMA Modern History Project, Evolved Museum: the former Belgian Consulate. From the past until the present, this exhibition traces the history of the former Belgian Consulate. Built during the Daehan Empire era, it is now used as the SeMA, Nam-Seoul Living Arts Museum.

This year has a great significance because the building marks its 110th anniversary. In 2004, the former Belgian Consulate was remodeled as the Nam Seoul Annex Building of SeMA and was mostly used as white cube spaces. After the building was programmed into a living arts museum, it has undergone restoration work. Through this work, visitors can come to appreciate the original architectural features of the building.

Evolved Museum: the former Belgian Consulate consists of two sections: An architectural section that analyzes the building’s history and character, and an art section that offers a reinterpretation of the building and its surrounding environment by artists. Based on serious research and study, a historian of Korean modern architecture, Ahn Changmo, organizes the architectural section as a guest curator. Through the exhibition and a symposium, the achievement of these efforts summons the unknown past into the present. Additionally, as the architectural firm ONE O ONE FACTORY and Ko Joohwan have participated in the restoration of the cultural property, the exhibition contains collaborations between the field of history, architecture and cultural property.

Meanwhile, Sangdon Kim, Noh Sangho, IM Heung-soon, Chang Hwa-jin, Shan Hur, and SSAV group participate in the art section. Through various genres including painting, sculpture, video, photography, and installation, from today’s perspective and by extending the topography to surrounding areas such as Sadang and Namhyeon-dong the artists activate the multi-layered meanings of the building across its history, culture, and society.

Evolved Museum: the former Belgian Consulate will provide a unique opportunity to encounter the historic value of the unknown Belgian Consulate as well as its current significance as a museum.