(DailyExpertNews) — Art has always had the power to be dangerous. But a newly opened art museum takes that to another level.
The inaugural exhibition, titled “2021 DMZ Art and Peace Platform”, featured 34 artworks from 32 artists and opened in September 2021.
“Elephant Cart” is a work by Nam June Paik, the late Korean-American artist who is considered the founder of the video art movement.
Ministry of Unification
Before becoming a museum, Unimaru was a customs clearance facility, where visitors went through security checkpoints from 2003 to 2007 before being allowed to enter the DMZ. This was then replaced by a larger office.
The building stood empty until early 2021, when architectural firm MPART – which also designed the National Museum of Modern Contemporary Art (MMCA) in Seoul – reimagined it as Unimaru. The name of the museum is a contraction of two Korean words: “uni”, meaning one, and “maru”, meaning space.
Due to both safety and the coronavirus, visitor numbers have been deliberately kept small.
When the museum was open, a maximum of five tour groups per day were allowed, with no more than 30 people per group. Now Unimaru is taking a break while setting up its next exhibition.
People wishing to visit must obtain permission from the South Korean Ministry of Unification (MOU), the official government agency that promotes reunification of the Koreas and dialogue between the two countries.
After approval, they will receive a free ticket to Unimaru and can board one of the special buses that are allowed to transport civilian guests to the DMZ.
On the left you can see the mural by Slovenian artist Marjetica Potrč “What Is DMZ Soil Made Of?”
Ministry of Unification
After their ID has been checked, guests are guided through the museum by teachers and staff from the MOU. These MOU employees are civilians and do not carry weapons.
All visitors to the DMZ must adhere to a dress code that prohibits miniskirts, shorts, and anything with camouflage prints.
They shouldn’t wave to anyone they might see or take pictures of anything without permission in case they run into any security issues.
Children under the age of 8 are also excluded from the DMZ, regardless of their country of origin.
In 2018, South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korea’s President Kim Jong Un held an inter-Korean summit at the “Peace House” in Panmunjom in the DMZ.
Technically, the two nations are still at war, but during the meeting, Moon and Kim agreed to formally end their conflict. The agreement also stated that both countries would remove weapons, guards and landmines from the Joint Security Area (JSA).
It was the departure of guards from some military lookouts that allowed Unimaru to display artwork on a repurposed former watchtower just a mile from the border.
The exterior of Unimaru.
Ministry of Unification
Artworks by both South Korean and international artists can be seen at Unimaru.
One of the most notable installations, however, is a blank frame that represents where the museum hopes one day to display work by North Korean artists.
The JSA, or Panmunjom, is probably the most famous place along the DMZ for its recognizable bright blue meeting room, the most visited attraction in the area.
Former US President Bill Clinton famously said the DMZ was the “scariest place on Earth” after a state visit there in 1993.
Panmunjom tours resumed on November 30, after being suspended in July when South Korea tightened Covid-19 restrictions.
