Trick Eye Museum
Hongdae in western Seoul is a neighborhood known for its vibrant street art, eccentric street performers, and quirky exhibits, but one gallery stands out from all the others. The Trick Eye Museum, in the basement of the Santorini Seoul Multicultural Complex, offers visitors the rare opportunity to be part of the art on display. Using the technique of trompe l'oeil, well-known works of art have been recreated to incorporate the illusion that the objects in them are three-dimensional. The majority of the artwork uses props or other features to make them more humorous, thus creating a slew of fun photo ops. And, unlike most of the world's museums, touching and photographing the art is encouraged here. The museum has various halls, each with a different theme. In the first few rooms, pose with classic works such as Renoir's "Dance at Bougival," Da Vinci's "Mona Lisa," and a rather chubby replica of Michelangelo's "David." Visitors can even pretend to pull down the drawn-in pants of Edvard Munch's screamer. Further into the exhibit, travel around the world visually, stopping for a gondola ride in Venice and a quick meal of super-colossal sashimi in Japan. In the Korean-themed area, learn a bit about traditional games and play along yourself—or at least appear to. The museum is a bit on the cheesy side (okay, a lot on the cheesy side), but is a fun place for kids and kids at heart. Bring a camera, as the museum staff are more than willing to assist in capturing your best poses. Don't forget to say "Kimchi!"
Hongdae in western Seoul is a neighborhood known for its vibrant street art, eccentric street performers, and quirky exhibits, but one gallery stands out from all the others. The Trick Eye Museum, in the basement of the Santorini Seoul Multicultural Complex, offers visitors the rare opportunity to be part of the art on display. Using the technique of trompe l'oeil, well-known works of art have been recreated to incorporate the illusion that the objects in them are three-dimensional. The majority of the artwork uses props or other features to make them more humorous, thus creating a slew of fun photo ops. And, unlike most of the world's museums, touching and photographing the art is encouraged here. The museum has various halls, each with a different theme. In the first few rooms, pose with classic works such as Renoir's "Dance at Bougival," Da Vinci's "Mona Lisa," and a rather chubby replica of Michelangelo's "David." Visitors can even pretend to pull down the drawn-in pants of Edvard Munch's screamer. Further into the exhibit, travel around the world visually, stopping for a gondola ride in Venice and a quick meal of super-colossal sashimi in Japan. In the Korean-themed area, learn a bit about traditional games and play along yourself—or at least appear to. The museum is a bit on the cheesy side (okay, a lot on the cheesy side), but is a fun place for kids and kids at heart. Bring a camera, as the museum staff are more than willing to assist in capturing your best poses. Don't forget to say "Kimchi!"
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