In the sketches that Whanki had envisioned,
the lower floor consisted of a bedroom,
dining room, living room, and guest room,
and the upper floor was entirely a studio
and storage space.
A room was needed to hang the paintings.
A space was created to place the paintings
where they belonged.
That was how the Whanki Museum began.
…
In 1989, after much difficulty,
the land was finally acquired…
How should the building be constructed?
Materials suited to our land and climate—
Stone (granite),
Wood (pine),
The scenery of our land,
Seoul,
Kim Whanki (the person),
Kim Whanki’s paintings (their essence),
and more—
The design that all these elements came together in a visually captured and so on.
This project, which began just before
the Seoul Olympics in 1988,
did not break ground until May 1991.
– KIM HyangAn –
Commemorating the renovation of the Whanki Museum in 2024, the exhibition KIM Whanki, The Duet offers a broader perspective on the artistic world of KIM Whanki and the philosophy of KIM HyangAn, the Whanki Museum founder, who dedicated her life to establishing this space.
KIM HyangAn was KIM Whanki’s lifelong artistic companion. After KIM Whanki’s passing, KIM HyangAn entered a new chapter of her life, once expressing, “The man is gone, but his art has remained.” Over a decade of endeavours, she established the Whanki Museum in her ideal location where water flows.
The exhibition title, The Duet, originates from Whanki’s profound blue dot painting, completed on a sunlit day in 1974, shortly before his passing. The meaning of the duet extends beyond the painting — it symbolizes the dialogue between KIM Whanki and the artistic world he envisioned, the artistic companionship between KIM Whanki and KIM HyangAn, and the harmonious legacy that Kim HyangAn wove together through the Whanki Museum.
KIM Whanki’s art continues to transcend time, and the accumulation of these time-laden stories has shaped the Whanki Museum into what it is today. Over the past three decades, the Whanki Museum has grown through shared experiences and deepening connections. We hope the meaning of The Duet resonates with visitors and inspires all.
