To commemorate its sixth anniversary, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Cheongju (MMCA Cheongju), has launched the innovative exhibition "Rooftop, Here!". Running from September 13 to October 12, this unique project invites visitors to experience the museum in a new light, offering access to the sixth-floor rooftop for the first time since the museum's opening.

The project is designed to explore fresh opportunities for interaction and engagement through contemporary art, unlocking previously unseen spaces within the museum. From the rooftop, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of Cheongju’s old city center, with its charming blend of nostalgic architecture and modest skyline, all framed by the vast and ever-changing sky. This elevated vantage point offers not only a view of the city but also a place to observe the natural shifts in light and atmosphere, providing a reflective environment to enhance the experience of the art on display.

The exhibition begins in the first-floor lobby, featuring Jinjoon Lee’s “Wandering Sun Series,” a 17-meter-long video installation. The large-scale panel projects a vivid crimson sunrise that floods the space with a bold red hue, immersing the audience in a striking visual display. This piece sets the tone for the rest of the exhibition, signaling the start of a journey through both physical and artistic spaces.

On the sixth-floor rooftop, visitors will encounter Kim Donghee’s installation, “Docking.” Spanning 18 meters in width and 55 meters in length, this piece evokes images of aircraft docking on a massive carrier or the experience of walking along the deck of a large cruise ship. "Docking" not only serves as a monumental installation but also functions as a stage for two planned performances. Kim’s work reflects the evolution of installation art, a movement that began in the 1970s and continues to explore how art can serve both aesthetic and practical purposes, often blending with other forms of performance art such as dance and theater.

Throughout the month-long project, the rooftop will transform into a vibrant stage for a variety of performances and screenings. Highlights include four dance films produced by the Korea National Contemporary Dance Company, as well as five museum-related films previously featured in MMCA Seoul’s Film & Video program, titled "What We Talk About When We Talk About Museum."

The exhibition also offers interactive activities, including a family-friendly movement program called "Here, Hello, Body!", and an audience-participatory dance performance titled "The Heat of Dance" by the Sungsoo Ahn Pick-up Group. Additionally, classical music performances will be held, featuring tenor Hyunhan Hwang, violinist Danny Koo, pianist James Jaewon Moon, and vibraphonist Hyunsang Yoon.

Through this diverse array of visual art, dance, music, and film, "Rooftop, Here!" offers visitors a multifaceted experience, encouraging them to discover new ways in which both the museum and contemporary art can be appreciated and utilized. The exhibition emphasizes the evolving role of museums as not just repositories of art, but dynamic spaces for interaction, performance, and reflection.

Sayart / Maria Kim, sayart2022@gmail.com