Installation view of 《Museum for All, Museum for Dogs》 © MMCA

The exhibition 《Museum for All, Museum for Dogs》 has opened up the MMCA for companion animals that are sometimes referred to as "family members," but are often restricted to enter public spaces. By inviting dogs to an art museum-a highly anthropocentric space and one of the most symbolic of all public spaces-we hope to rethink the meaning of companionship in contemporary society, our attitude towards the Other, the scope of tolerance allowed in a museum, and the idea of public spaces.
 
For many years, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Korea has worked hard to enhance the accessibility of the museum under the slogan of "A Museum for All." In the spirit of this mission, 《Museum for All, Museum for Dogs》 questions who we consider to be included in this word "all." For about a month, parts of the museum will transform into spaces where dogs and dog lovers can coexist. The project will experiment to see whether companion animals can remain as members of the family and society in public spces, and whether the museum, as an anthropocentric construction, can embrace the Other and non-human entities.

Installation view of 《Museum for All, Museum for Dogs》 © MMCA

The project will consist of exhibitions, performances, screenings, and talks that deliberate on the meaning of companionship and relationships, the perception ability of other species, and the paradox of the concept of “nature-culture.” In the process of preparing for this, we not only concentrated on the artistic program, but also took into account other aspects surrounding the museum, such as the museum's architecture, management, and merchandise.

Thus, experts from various fields have joined the team: two veterinarians, Seol Chae-hyeon and Cho Gwang-min, offered advice on the perception, cognition, habits, and emotions of dogs. Architect Kim Geong-jae and landscape architect Yoo Seung-jongdesigned the architecture and the landscape for dogs, while the screening program was curated by curator Kim Eun-hee.
 
Above all, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art stated that, while reflecting on ways in which such contemporary art practices can minimize harm to ecology and the environment, it attempted an approach to exhibition-making different from conventional methods. Through taking the environment, the Other, and our surroundings seriously, the museum added that it hopes to make even a small contribution to expanding a “precious otherness.”

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