Damyang Bamboo Museum

After I ventured through the bamboo forest I decided it would be best to cool off in a museum. However the bamboo museum, 담양 대나무 박물관, was located a bit out of town so I took a taxi instead of walking over there. In fact I was comfortable getting around the area via taxi and it was fun getting to know local people this way, along with using some Korean.

The museum was definitely a quiet place to enter into with not many visitors. It is set up with a more historical and horticultural display at the ground floor. However, there wasn't much English to be seen. They had a display of bamboo stalks and roots.

Going on to the other exhibition rooms you started to see how bamboo is harvested and crafted using various tools.

Then you see products made from bamboo such as ordinary baskets to jewelry and other fancy items.

Those items in the lower right corner are meant to be attached to your steering wheel so you can turn it easily. However they certainly evoke other things.

The large woven baskets were quite a site to see as they were placed throughout the museum.

Te following diorama looked like a depiction of a bamboo market from long ago, I enjoyed the detail in the dress of the human models. Plus not to mention all those tiny baskets.

The Damyang Bamboo Museum was a pleasant place to visit, and certainly allowed one to get a breadth of how much bamboo can be used for. However, you don't really end up spending a lot of time in the museum and there wasn't really a cafe to enjoy yourself in either. Yet there were bamboo souvenir shops outside just in case you missed something at the forest.

I would recommend a trip to this museum on your time out in Damyang, anyways. If you would like more info on the museum and other sites to see follow this link.

Oasis (오아시스): Korean Movie Review

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Oasis, the movie directed by Lee Chang-dong, is an incredible piece of work where you can see a very acute and tactful observation of the human condition. The kind that is brought on by the people in society who are forgotten and at the very end of the line. Scenery within the movie evokes emotions ranging from rage to sympathy, and yet you don't want to stop watching. 

The story focuses on the retarded character Jong-du who was recently released from prison, and finds himself back at home amongst family who doesn't want him. Scenes show how as outcasted from family and society, not just for the way he acts but also his reputation. The crime in which he was involved (sort of) takes him to the victim's family, where he meets the physically disabled Gong-ju (Korean name for Princess). 

source (I didn't know this but apparently after you get of prison your suppose to eat a block of fresh tofu.)

What happens is they fall in love, but their relationship is of course not favored. However, you can't help but feel your heart swell when he makes the poor girl happy and imagine that she isn't disabled. 

There is a lot intertwined in the plot of this movie and you realize that the misfit of the film is really just a victim of his family's shameful actions, along with the girl whose family takes advantage of her disability. 

I don't want to give too much away, because not knowing key elements of the film, I feel are important to thoroughly enjoying this movie. That is why I highly recommend accessing it and giving it a try. It's not going to be a blockbuster-blow-your tv out, sort of movie. But will give you insight into the fringe side of Korea. Here's the trailer to get you ready:

Modern Design Museum: Hidden Gem in Hongdae

As I found myself on the edge of Hongdae, further away from the bustling restaurant, cafe and club streets near the station, I wandered up a hill. On my phone was a map I downloaded that had highlights one could find in the area. 

If you happen to be looking closely at this map then you could have found me in the B1 section. The main part of Hongdae being in the D2-1 quandrants.  I saw something up there that said "Modern Design Museum" and so headed in that direction. 

After coming to the end of a steep hill I noticed clearly a building marked with that name, and looked suitable to house the attributes of design. 

I walked up to the cafe entrance and saw a sign which read, "Push red button for museum entrance." (Yes, in English.) I must have been in Wonderland as there was no one around, and a red button beckoning me. I pressed, waited a while and proceeded inside the cafe. I was greeted by a young lady who asked for 5,000 Won, and showed me up the stairs to the 1st gallery.

The Modern Design Museum is arranged in such a way that you can get a very good idea of how design entered and endured through Korea's modern history. You'll see that the use of design from the beginning was for filial and political use, mostly. But as time went on and Western culture seeped in more, the elements and "things" of design permeated it's way into the culture. 

Before entering the actually gallery you are greeted by this small guest table, with stamps and postcards for sale. I left a little something behind for their pleasure. 

The gallery space is sectioned off into different time periods but mostly categorized by how design had an affect on Korea.

Section 1: Inception Stage (Introduction of Western modern culture...) 1876-1910

The first area you walk in to is full of small photos, pins and memorabilia that any antique enthusiast would roll over in glee about. 

Mostly, you could tell, they were trying to show the earliest form of how Korea was promoted to the world. The use of small flags amongst others represents this, which you can get a sense for in the following slideshow.

The incredibly delicate and historic looking photographs were very illuminating. This is an archive definitely worth checking out in your free time. It gave me a greater sense of this country's history.

Section 2: Stationary Stage (Slump of Korean traditional culture and the beginning of the corporate) 1910-1945

The next section featured more commercial type items, like postcards and newspapers. Here you got a feel for the propaganda machine in high gear. 

It was fun to see familiar things yet in an older light, such as these traditional playing cards.

Everything had this real used feel to it and the collection was very well put together, organized on view in such a way you could really grasp the concept. These dolls, scene behind glass and featured in a traditional style book case, were ultimately captivating.

Section 3: Incubating Stage (Begininning of understanding the design usefulness) 1945 - 1961 / Section 4: Early developing stage 1961 - 1976 / Section 5 Developing Stage: (Systemizing design and development through international sports)1976 - 1988 / Section 6: Take-off stage 1988 - 2000 / Section 7: Maturing stage 2000 ~

One moves on from the second floor to the third where they start to enter a part of Korean history where things move upward economically and the role of design becomes more important towards developing an international image. 

Everything from small tin-toys, to rice-cookers and TVs seemed to infiltrate themselves into Korean households. It was actually kind of humorous because I could have sworn I've seen some of these old items at use in some places. But all together I really enjoyed this section because it gave me a broader sense of how Korea developed into it's modern self today. I also started to see how important household appliances are and their significance in the change of a traditional society into a modern one. 

From rotary phones to keyboards and wireless phones, it seems the conveniences of today opened themselves up to Korea, just as it had everywhere else.

When you get to the final room, the one with sports paraphernalia (the 2002 World Cup), you come to a full understanding of how design made its way through Korea's tumultuous modern history.

After I left the gallery space and headed back down to the cafe, I couldn't help leaving inspired. I mostly feel an affinity to the early postcards that were on display. Already I have inspiration for some new art works. Let's hope I don't take too long to create it.

I purchased a few postcards, said my goodbye and went on my way. But I am here today to tell you to check out this museum. For several reasons:

1. It's a hidden gem amongst the glut of cafes, couples and Hongdae crowds.
2. Since it is a hidden gem you likely will find yourself as the only person viewing the place. I was there on a Sunday afternoon, and was the only one. Otherwise, you won't find yourself fighting for elbow room here. 
3. The cafe looked very inviting.
4. There is a park nearby, worth exploring.
5. The history! By golly... this place will give your head a swirl.

Directions:

View 근현대디자인박물관 Modern Design Museum in a larger map




Step 1: Go out exit 8 and face this way:

Step 2: Make your way to the rotary:

Step 3: Go left and head towards a street you can take on the right, that features a Family Mart.

Step 4: Find the road on the right that has the Family Mart.

Step 5: Head down the road, alllll the way to the end. You will pass cafes and boutique clothing shops. Plus the Prince Coffee Shop drama place. 

Step 6: Find the crosswalk, cross it. Once on the other side make a little U-turn to find a road that is going uphill.

When you see the following, then you know you are in the right spot!