A museum dedicated to the late Suh Se Ok (1929~2020), a master of Korean ink abstract painting, tentatively named the ‘Suh Se Ok Art Museum,’ is set to open in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, in 2028.

In 2021, Suh’s family donated 3,342 pieces, including major works and personal collections, to the Seongbuk Museum of Art. Over the past three years, the museum has conducted research on the donated works and organized exhibitions, reaffirming the necessity of establishing the Suh Se Ok Art Museum. 

As a result, Seongbuk-gu initiated plans to build the Suh Se Ok Art Museum as a branch of the Seongbuk Museum of Art. In December of last year, the project passed the final feasibility review by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism for the establishment of a public museum.

The museum will be built on the site of the studio of Suh Se Ok's eldest son, globally renowned installation artist Do Ho Suh. The design will be undertaken by the artist's second son, architect Eulho Suh, founder of Suh Architects. 

The museum is planned as a 996-square-meter space spanning one basement level and two above-ground floors. It will include exhibition halls, an archive space, research facilities, and storage areas. 

Beyond preserving Suh Se Ok's works and collections, the museum is expected to serve as a significant research institution for Korean contemporary art and a hub for regional artistic endeavors.

References

• 브리크, 故서세옥 작가의 유산, 성북구에 ‘서세옥미술관’으로 새롭게 태어나다, 2024.12.16

Ji Yeon Lee has been working as an editor for the media art and culture channel AliceOn since 2021 and worked as an exhibition coordinator at samuso (now Space for Contemporary Art) from 2021 to 2023.