| Introduction |
The Ho-Am Art Museum began with the donation of over 1,200 Korean works of art collected over a period of more than 30 years by Mr. Lee Byung-Chull, the late chairman of the Samsung Group. In April 1982 the building that now houses this incomparable collection opened in Yongin, approximately one hour south of Korea's capital city of Seoul.Verdant hills and crystal-clear skies provide the setting for the museum and its grounds, while the traditional lines and grace of Korean architecture inspired the design of the museum building itself. Complementing this structure is its garden complex, Hee Won. Embodying the finest style of classical Korean garden, which is rarely found today, Hee Won is landscaped in the traditional fashion and arrayed with pavilions, lotus ponds, cascading streams, and stone statuary from various periods of Korean history. Hee Won also contains a sculpture garden of works by the great French sculptor Bourdelle.The Ho-Am Art Museum is the largest privately owned museum in Korea. The unique quality and nature of its collection as well as a good range of activities conducted under the aegis of the museum have earned it wide recognition at home and abroad. Visitors can relax in the gardens as they enjoy the seasonal changes in the natural setting that surrounds the museum while at the same time drawing pleasure from the many objects of Korean artistic achievement on display. A visit to the Ho-Am Art Museum is a rare opportunity to experience the rich artistic and cultural legacy of Korea. |
