By Honorary Reporter Wendy Palomo from the Philippines
Photos, videos = Wendy Palomo

What comes to mind when you hear the word "museum?" Without a doubt, one immediately visualizes a quiet place with impeccably curated and high-value works of art meant to be seen but never touched. Another image that appears is of exhibitions encased in glass to protect well-preserved relics from damage.

Museum DAH at Busan's Centum City defies this traditional idea of a museum. This place never allows the senses to stand still and instead challenges the imagination through constantly changing and evolving visuals. It nudges one to move and look below, sideways and above.

On a recent trip to Busan with Korea.net Honorary Reporters, I was suddenly transported to a place of limitless imagination. The so-called Art Car Project, a colorful mosaic of a beetle, paled in comparison to the wonders of the entrance of the exhibition "Knocking on Heaven’s Gate." This digital performance preceded me going to Eternal Sunshine Halll, at the end of which was the area dubbed "Looking for Lost Time."

I was seriously at a loss for words when I found myself standing in the middle of "Miracle Garden," an overwhelming display of digital art. The exhibition "Dreaming Flower" had a whimsical area filled with fairies and magic that made me want to dance and twirl and see myself in my dreams. Paula Mercado-Vial, an Honorary Reporter from the Philippines, said, "It kind of took me to a secret garden. When I was a little girl, I liked maze gardens."

Where traditional art is untouchable and restrictive, digital art displays at Museum DAH encourage interaction. When Mercado-Vial touched the interactive screen on a table, she likened it to the highly digital interactions in scenes from the "Avengers" movies. "It's a playful museum. There are no toys but because of high technology, you feel you can play around," she said.

Anna Tsoi, an Honorary Reporter from Russia, said she felt like a magician making things happen when she touched the interactive table.

Leading up to the second floor was the exhibition "Way to Heaven" that led to the "Design Your Self" café with seats and coffee. Tsoi said she was amazed to see as moving pictures the famous Da Vinci painting "Mona Lisa" and a portrait of King Sejong the Great.

I ended my digital adventure at the Art Lounge, which has two big bathtubs. I couldn't exactly interpret why the bathtubs were there but they didn't take away from the magical scenes I saw.

This one-of-a kind museum has set a high standard hard to replicate, but the best thing about it is how it appeals to all ages. Mercado-Vial observed the facility's family-friendly orientation, while Tsoi said she couldn't stop thinking about the museum, saying, "I was really impressed with the whole thing inside. It's fantastic and has many areas where we could take a lot of pictures."

Check out this video for a sneak peek at the exhibition.

chaey0726@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.