Iron man and artist, the Mullae-dong Art Village

By Korea.net Honorary Reporter Kim Yong Hwan

Photos = Kim Yong Hwan

When you walk out of exit No. 7 of Mullae Station on subway line No. 2, you can see a number of sculptures symbolizing small factories, welding shops and related metal workshops. The maze-like alley with murals symbolizing the neighborhood of Mullae-dong welcomes visitors. This is the Mullae-dong Art Village, a unique cultural space where artists and retired welders and metal tradespeople coexist.

Here you can see traces of the small one- or two-man steel factories of the past, and the present's footsteps toward art galleries and exhibition spaces. Writers' workshops have opened along "Iron Street" in Mullae-dong, where many of metal shops used to be located. Many people are attracted by the charms of that coexistence, and there are more and more cafes and restaurants every month.

In order to feel the charms of this place, you should open your eyes and look closely. The aesthetics of coexistence are hidden between the alleys. The aesthetics of coexistence begin to be revealed when you see all the things naturally and unintentionally passing through time.

The easiest to see are the signboards. The signboards here are very good as attractions. Signs here are often made out of iron or some other metal and tend to have very rough edges and textures. It's really impressive that that which is rusty is now beautiful.

The irregularly placed sculptures make the charm of the juxtaposition even deeper. There's an owl made of rusty iron in a pub door, and the geometric sculpture of a cube and circle catches the feet of passersby.

The street lights along the alley are also very delicate. More than just a functional aspect that illuminates the dark, the detailed lighting of the steel street lamps here is a work of art. There are also artists who make portraits. When you visit Mullae-dong, you can see many sculptures shaped like human faces inside the shops. These are called "face nameplates." They aren't just nameplates with a name. They're nameplates with a portrait.

In Mullae-dong, identity is revealed in shops' door handles. The place is covered with warm designs that can look cold. Visitors can feel the coexistence of the artists, the tradespeople, and those who have felt the charms of this neighborhood and have settled there. This is the Mullae-dong Art Village.

wisdom117@korea.kr

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