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Arario Museum in Space
Arario Museum in Space
4.5
Temporarily closedClosed until further notice
About
Kate Kim Su-Kun’s Space Office building, which occupies an important position in Korea’s contemporary history of architecture, reopens as ARARIO MUSEUM in SPACE on September 1st, 2014. ARARIO MUSEUM is a contemporary art museum, born out of a collection compiled by ARARIO Inc.’s founder Kim Chang-il’s unique taste in and passion for art. ARARIO MUSEUM in SPACE aims to become a central location for cultures and arts where visitors can share and communicate their artistic experiences, by continuously introducing a wide variety of domestic and overseas art works that harbor historical, social, and cultural values, augmenting the historical significance of the existing building with the cultural values of contemporary art. The Arario collection comprises contemporary art works that have been collected over 35 years by the hands of Chairman Kim Chang-il. Chairman Kim, who was mainly focusing on modern and contemporary Korean art works, began to build a systematic collection of domestic and overseas contemporary art pieces with a renewed taste after visiting an exhibit held at The Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles in 1981, which left him with a deep impression. He expanded the scope of his collection to Western contemporary art, taking note of UK’s YBAs and Germany’s Leipzig school since 1998, and has been focusing on young artists in China, India, and Southeast Asian after 2000. Now, the collection consists of over 3,700 pieces of contemporary art works from both the East and West. The MUSEUM’s inaugural exhibition, , presents over 200 pieces by 43 artists out of the collection built over the past 30 years. The exhibition will offer an open scope, unlimited to any specific period, country, or media, and introduce works from a wide array of regions including Korea, and Western countries such as the US, UK, and Germany, as well as India, China, and Southeast Asia.
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: Jongno-gu
How to get there
- Anguk • 4 min walk
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
62 reviews
Excellent
37
Very good
22
Average
1
Poor
1
Terrible
1
Andrew V
7 contributions
Jul 2023 • Solo
I can’t adequately say how much I loved this museum. Perhaps my new favorite art museum in the world. The building itself is amazing. Most museums were designed to be museums, and can feel sterile. With its exposed brick, narrow staircases, and exhibits that sit in abandoned bathrooms, offices, and on an actual kitchen counter, this place feels like the art has squatter’s rights. Great variety of pieces. I felt amused, I felt unsettled, I felt challenged. Highly recommend.
Written July 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aljoscha K
10 contributions
Sep 2019 • Couples
Go and check it out. Great art in a unique setting. They made good use of the existing building and you get a good mix of modern art pieces. Can't understand the people not into modern art giving a bad rating. Don't go there if you don't like it in the first place. I don't like seafood. Just because I'm on vacation I don't visit a seafood place one recommends. Simple as that. Don't miss out on Fritz coffee next door.
Written September 7, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Liesbeth J
Amsterdam, The Netherlands3 contributions
Jan 2019 • Solo
Very funny building, you feel like an explorer, finding works of art in all sorts of nooks and crannies. Lots of video-art, lots of Asian art, very nicely curated by a seriously good collector, I loved this museum. Full of surprises. It looked closed from the outside, I am glad I tried to open the door nevertheless. Not very many visitors, on a Sunday afternoon in January. Lots of time and space to look at everything without other people in the same room.
Written January 21, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Monica J
Jakarta, Indonesia280 contributions
Nov 2019 • Couples
I loved the way the art pieces were arranged around the building (even in the toilets). It was definitely one of the most interesting repurposed building, considering the layout was a little strange in the first place with cramped stairs and low-ceilings in places.
Much of the feel of the art was also very raw, just like the space. There were definitely interesting pieces, I especially liked the ones by the Filipino artists, which talked about social and environmental issues (Geraldine Javier’s installation was complex and beautiful). A lot of the ones about human interaction (Tracey Emin’s quilt was also a very striking piece) had great narratives and interesting approaches (like that video on the topmost floor).
Much of the feel of the art was also very raw, just like the space. There were definitely interesting pieces, I especially liked the ones by the Filipino artists, which talked about social and environmental issues (Geraldine Javier’s installation was complex and beautiful). A lot of the ones about human interaction (Tracey Emin’s quilt was also a very striking piece) had great narratives and interesting approaches (like that video on the topmost floor).
Written November 15, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LASeoulGuy
Seoul, South Korea1,185 contributions
May 2019 • Solo
Disclaimer: I can’t stand modern art.
However, this museum convinced me that I will never enjoy it. Don’t get me wrong. There were about three things that I liked there but hated the rest. I will share 5 of the weirdest ones and 3 that I liked. To get to this museum, you will come out of Anguk Station, Exit 3 and walk a couple minutes. It will be on your left. The admission is ₩10,000 for adults.
However, this museum convinced me that I will never enjoy it. Don’t get me wrong. There were about three things that I liked there but hated the rest. I will share 5 of the weirdest ones and 3 that I liked. To get to this museum, you will come out of Anguk Station, Exit 3 and walk a couple minutes. It will be on your left. The admission is ₩10,000 for adults.
Written May 3, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KICon
Melbourne, Australia381 contributions
Jul 2018
Fans of finely curated contemporary art collections will find much to enjoy at Arario Museum in Space. Open Tuesday to Sunday, it's nearby a number of other attractions including the Insadong-Gil shopping strip and Bukchon Hanok village. The museum is housed in a labyrinthine architecturally-designed 70s brick building shrouded in Ivy, the collection spanning all manner of sculpture, photography, installation, painting and interactive. Highly recommended.
Written August 6, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Samiha
Brooklyn, NY64 contributions
Feb 2017 • Friends
Arario might be one of my favorite museums in the world. The art contained inside is beautiful, intriguing, and many pieces are by world-renowned artists, but it's the space itself that really drew me in. The narrow nature of the building encourages unexpected, intimate views of the pieces, while its windows also frame interesting views of the surrounding neighborhood. The gift shop is cool too, offering all sorts of cool things by artists you won't find elsewhere. Highly recommend for a quiet afternoon in Seoul.
Written January 23, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sam
Washington DC, DC12,001 contributions
Feb 2017 • Friends
This place is one of the weirdest museums i ever been lol i really loved it! So unique! This is modern and contemporary art at his finest! Lots of great pictures can be taken here! Entrance is 10,000 KRW. This is really a must if you like museums
Written February 5, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nate B
Dublin, Ireland510 contributions
Jan 2016 • Solo
Impressive, was initially reluctant as it was around 10euro in and I had never heard of the place, is right beside the royal palace, exhibitions are well laid out, unusual layout in each room, works include tracey emmins/marc quinn, lots of famous artists, meticulous detail, I don't normally like contemporary art but the museum is more of an experience itself than any gallery/museum I've been too. I didn't go to the cafe/restaurant as didn't have time but it looked very hip.
Written February 5, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarah53187
Dunedin, New Zealand618 contributions
Oct 2018 • Couples
We loved Arario Museum in Space. We only had time for one art museum in Seoul and we're so glad we chose this! Truly unique experience, we loved every minute of it. The combination of the building and the art is captivating.
Written November 5, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Claim your listingArario Museum in Space - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Arario Museum in Space
- Arario Museum in Space is open:
- Tue - Sun 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
- Hotels near Arario Museum in Space:
- (0.09 mi) Noble Tourist Hotel
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- Restaurants near Arario Museum in Space:
- (0.00 mi) Brasserie in SPACE
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- (0.10 mi) Onion Anguk