Seoul's Songpa-gu is hosting a special children's exhibition, "Lake Animal Art Exhibition," at The Gallery Lake on the east side of Seokchon Lake through Oct. 25, the district announced.
The exhibition was designed to let children explore contemporary art in an accessible and engaging way, using animals as a familiar entry point. Visitors can nurture their artistic imagination while reflecting on the value of life, the natural environment and coexistence.
Six artists — Jeong Chan-bu, Ko Sang-woo, Lee Woo-man, Lee Jeong-yun, Byeon Dae-yong and Ahn Eun-seon — are participating in the exhibition, presenting a combined total of about 120 works spanning detailed illustration, sculpture, installation art, painting and more.
In the gallery lobby and on the second-floor terrace, visitors are greeted by Lee Jeong-yun's "Dreaming Horse" and Byeon Dae-yong's "Bear with Wings," among other pieces.
Gallery Room 1 features works by Ko Sang-woo and Lee Jeong-yun. Ko combines photographic negative-reversal techniques with painterly expression to breathe vivid life into endangered animals such as tigers and pandas. Lee presents playful, storybook-style inflatable sculptures — including "Elephant in High Heels" — alongside a drawing series titled "Liquid Cat and Warm Ornaments," which incorporates stuffed animals and various other objects.
Gallery Room 2 showcases works by Jeong Chan-bu, Byeon Dae-yong, Lee Woo-man and Ahn Eun-seon. Jeong stacks and assembles everyday plastic straws to render natural creatures such as rabbits. Byeon addresses global warming and environmental issues in an approachable way through pieces like "Polar Bear Eating Ice Cream." Lee draws on ecological observation to render birds' feathers and gazes in meticulous detail, while Ahn uses fabric, silk and embroidery to depict the interconnection of plant roots and life.
Beyond the artworks themselves, the exhibition offers a range of companion programs. Docent-led tours run daily at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. to help visitors engage more deeply with the works, and children's activity worksheets encourage young visitors to observe pieces closely and record their thoughts.
The gallery also features a reading corner stocked with picture books by the participating artists as well as titles on animals and nature. A district-wide "Songpa Museum Outing" program, held in partnership with museums and galleries across Songpa-gu, runs through Aug. 30.
The exhibition is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. It is closed every Monday and on the day of traditional Korean holidays, but remains open on other public holidays. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, the gallery extends its hours until 9 p.m., giving families and residents who cannot visit during the day a chance to enjoy the exhibition at their leisure.
"I hope children will have fun experiencing contemporary art through familiar animals, and take a moment to reflect on the preciousness of nature and life," district Mayor Seo Gang-seok said. "We will continue to develop The Gallery Lake into a space where all residents can comfortably enjoy culture and the arts as part of their everyday lives."
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