By Lee Kyoung Mi and Lee Jihae

Seoul | Oct. 20, 2020

Video = Lee Kyoung Mi

Photos = Lee Kyoung Mi

"Woof, woof!"

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Seoul's Jongno-gu District from Sept. 4 to Oct. 25 held the exhibition "A Museum for All, a Museum for Dogs." In a break from its previous policy of only allowing guide dogs to enter, the museum allowed visitors to bring regular dogs to the event.

The exhibition's purpose was to show how welcoming Korean society is by allowing the entry of pets, which are often like family to their owners but banned in public places, and promote consideration for others. 

Twenty-eight works were displayed including photos, sculptures and videos from home and abroad. 

Korea.net visited the dog-friendly exhibition on Oct. 20 to gauge the level of canine enjoyment. 

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Seoul hosted the nation's first art exhibition that allows visitors to bring their dogs.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the museum uses a reservation system to limit the number of visitors, and Korea.net was no exception.

Each time slot allowed four teams at a time and quickly filled up. Since the nation's social distancing level was eased to Level 1 on Oct. 12, six dogs per slot were allowed during the final week of the exhibition. People without dogs were also allowed to see the exhibition with the pets of other visitors.

Two signs in both Korean and English guide visitors at the exhibition.

The exhibition's three sections were 7th Exhibition (indoors), Showground (outdoors) and the outdoor yard. Signs throughout the museum including in the elevator showed directions and rules for visitors to follow when with their dogs. A separate exhibition for visitors without dogs was also held, and finding direction signs was easy.

The museum staff ensured proper observance of social distancing measures amid the pandemic.

Before entering with their dogs, visitors had to listen at the entrance to instructions and receive waste bags for their dogs. They could enter only after filling out and signing a form with questions such as "Do you know the places where dogs are allowed to enter?" and "If conflict arises between dogs and their owners cannot control the situation, they might be prohibited from staying at the exhibition. Do you consent?" 

"Showground" was an outdoor exhibition for dogs at the museum.

A space made of rice straw displayed in Showground was designed for dogs to relax and relieve themselves before entering the indoor area. Dogs roamed freely and their owners took photos of their canine companions. 

Dogs sniffed and gently kicked at a work by Kim YongKwan titled "To Let You Know, I Am Big and Non-dangerous."

This was the indoor display "7th Exhibition.".

7th Exhibition was filled with yellow and blue and designed specifically for dogs, which are colorblind and cannot recognize red and green but can see blue and yellow. Terry, a Boston terrier, happily rolled around at an exhibition designed like a forest, with its big movements causing wooden parts to spring forth.

Terry's owner Park Heeyon tried to put the parts back in place, when a museum worker said, "You can just leave them there. Dogs are guests here."

"I thought this was really cool since this was the first time I'd heard of an exhibition that allows dogs, so I made a reservation right away," Park said. "I hope for more such opportunities with my dog."

The final artifact of the section "7th Exhibition" was "Wolves from Above" by Demelza Kooij.

A screen on the floor showed a video of wolves captured from high above with a drone, drawing the keen attention of most dogs at the museum. They walked on the screen and seemed captivated by the wolves' constant motions. One white poodle kept following the images of wolves and sniffing.

Another noteworthy piece was "Togo and Balto - A Group Sculpture of Canine Hero who Saved Humanity" by Jeong Yeondoo, showing three majestic-looking dogs made out of ingredients of dog food. 

"Dream of Dog" was a work displayed at the museum's outdoor exhibition.

The last stop in the exhibition was the outdoor yard. "Dream of Dog" by the sculptor collective Jogakscout was a combination of equipment for fostering canine agility by making dogs step over obstacles and abstract sculptural elements. Dogs freely roamed around in front of the museum and played with tools. Those without reservations were allowed here, so the yard saw many visitors over the exhibition period.

Even visitors who attended the exhibition without their pets raved about the event. Angela Kim, who moved to Korea 15 years ago from the U.S., said, "I can't raise a dog because of my husband and our child. I came here as soon as I heard of an exhibition that allows dogs."

Saying she never saw such an event in the U.S., Kim added, "I found the limit to the admissible number of dogs sad, and I couldn't see as many dogs. I'll come if this exhibition is held again."

km137426@korea.kr