Hanwha Centre Pompidou, just the third overseas branch of the famous French museum of modern and contemporary art after those in Malaga, Spain, and Shanghai, China, is located at the annex of the skyscraper 63 Square in Seoul's Yeongdeungpo-gu District. (Hanwha Foundation of Culture)

By Charles Audouin

Centre Pompidou Hanwha, the domestic branch of the famous French museum of modern and contemporary art, opened on June 4 at the skyscraper 63 Square in the Yeouido neighborhood of Seoul's Yeongdeungpo-gu District.

The opening is the result of an operating agreement signed by Hanwha Foundation of Culture and Centre Pompidou in 2023.

Under this partnership, the foundation will hold exhibitions twice a year for the next four years featuring collections from Centre Pompidou.

"We've partnered with Centre Pompidou, a leading global art museum, to introduce high-level modern and contemporary art to Korea," the foundation's chief Lee Sungsoo on April 19 told a news conference. "The contract is for four years, but we hope to continue working together on good projects after that."

Centre Pompidou Hanwha involved complete renovation of the annex to 63 Square and covers the first four floors. Each of the two large exhibition halls covers 1,652 square m and was designed by renowned French architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte, known for his work on the refurbishment of the Louvre Museum, Elysee Palace and Incheon International Airport.

Christian Briend, head curator of the Modern Collections at Centre Pompidou, on May 19 explains the 1913 work "Woman with a Guitar" by Georges Braque at a news conference held at Centre Pompidou Hanwha in Seoul's Yeongdeungpo-gu District. (Hanwha Foundation of Culture)

The theme of the inaugural exhibition is Cubism through some 90 paintings and sculptures by around 40 artists including Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, who pioneered Cubism in Paris around 1907. All the works are from the Centre Pompidou collection.

Another exhibition, "Korea Focus," displays the influence of the Cubist movement on the development of modern Korean art. It features 21 paintings by 11 domestic artists from the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Korea and other institutions.

Both exhibitions run through Oct. 4.

"Hanwha seeks to use Centre Pompidou's global network to rise as a hub that globally promotes Korean art," Lee added.

Admission is KRW 28,000 won for adults. Reservations of time slots are available on Hanwha Centre Pompidou's official website (www.centrepompidou-hanwha.kr).

Participants at a news conference on May 19 browse Exhibition Hall 2 of Centre Pompidou Hanwha ahead of the museum's official opening on June 4. At the center is the Pablo Picasso work "Mercure Ballet Curtain," which is being displayed in Korea for the first time. The exhibition "Korea Focus" is located at the mezzanine space on the third floor above the hall. (Charles Auduoin)