By: Gaelle
South Korea

The Arte Museum of Jeju: A Dive into Immersive Digital Art

Opened in September 2020 in Jeju, the Arte Museum is an experience not to be missed! Unlike more traditional museums, this one offers a showcase of immersive digital art. The museum was created by d’strict, a South Korean company specialising in digital design, offering immersive and multi-sensory exhibitions made from visual and sound projections, often inspired by nature and landscapes. The museum is similar to the immersive experiences of teamLab, a digital art collective based in Japan, specialising in creating immersive installations. teamLab is known worldwide and offers immersive experiences across the globe, including in Saudi Arabia. For more information, check out the article on teamLab.

This article covers the following installations at the Arte Museum in Jeju:

TeamLabs Tokyo

The Arte Museum in Jeju offers half a dozen experiences: a pink sand waterfall, a massive wave (my favourite!), a garden of lights, and finally, stars of the Milky Way. It’s the perfect place for a relaxing moment or to shelter from the rain. You can explore the museum in any order, as it is designed to be a free-flowing experience where visitors can move around as they wish. This allows for a more personal exploration, as you can create your own path and spend as much time as you like in each installation.

Immersive Experiences to Discover

Beach cloud

This room was my favourite experience. You are transported by a sunset over a sea of clouds. The immersive experience is all the more striking as the video is projected both on the screen in front of you and on the floor, giving the impression that your feet are in the water. This room perfectly defines the concept of an immersive experience. You witness a digital sunset with sound, clouds moving, waves washing up on the shore, and the sky turning pink.

Star Milky Way

his room, decorated with luminous lanterns and mirrors, is perfect for taking photos. The darkness of the room is softened by the glow of the lanterns. This room reminds me a lot of teamLab in Tokyo as well as the installations of the Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama.

Forest

At the heart of the Arte Museum in Jeju, there is a forest. As you walk around, you can spot animals on the walls, with the dragon being the most impressive.

Bamboo forest live sketchbook

A bamboo forest can also be seen on the walls. If you look more closely, it’s a bit special, as colourful animals wander through it. In fact, you have the option to choose an animal, colour it in, and make it appear in this forest. You simply take a template, colour it as you like (I drew cherry blossoms on a baby panda). Once finished, you just need to use the scanner.

Once scanned, the panda enters the bamboo forest. It takes a few minutes.

Flower cosmos

This was the first room I visited in the Arte Museum in Jeju. There was no one there, which made the experience even more beautiful and immersive. The room projects blooming cosmos flowers. The flowers seem to bloom and scatter as you move around. ‘Flower Cosmos’ is a digital field of flowers that mimics the cycle of nature.

Romantic thunder

In this installation, lightning strikes the clouds and illuminates a mysterious world. A surreal landscape unfolds with a play of colours. Pink clouds blend with creatures. The projection takes a bit of time, and I recommend staying for several minutes to fully appreciate this landscape. The positioning of the projection is very interesting and gives the impression that the clouds are stuck to the ceiling.

Moon

At the centre of the Arte Museum in Jeju, there is a giant rabbit. It is a ‘moon rabbit,’ a legendary creature from Korean folklore. According to the legend, a rabbit lives on the moon and prepares a potion of immortality for the gods. Why a moon rabbit? The dark patterns on the moon’s surface resemble the silhouette of a rabbit. Here, the 4-metre-tall rabbit sits under the moonlight, which stretches out infinitely thanks to a mirror effect.

Garden – light of masterpieces

A projection of the most iconic works from the history of Western art (during my visit, it was the impressionist Claude Monet). At the back of the room, you can climb onto a platform to get a full view of the installation. This room is similar to the immersive exhibitions you can find in many European capitals, such as London or Paris. These exhibitions are often titled ‘Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience’.

I really appreciate the opportunity to discover works of art presented in a way that differs from traditional displays. Typically, artworks are static, hung on walls, or exhibited in a classic manner. With immersive installations, these works come to life from a new perspective. I studied art history, and for me, seeing these works in a new light and being able to focus on specific elements is something I enjoy a lot.

Waterfall pink sand

The ‘Waterfall Pink Salt’ installation is a spectacular digital waterfall that combines pink hues and salt textures, creating a dreamy and immersive atmosphere where nature and digital art meet in a soothing visual flow. The photo doesn’t do it justice, but it’s a truly special place, located near the entrance.

Digital Art at the Arte Museum in Jeju

The Arte Museum in Jeju is not limited to Jeju Island. It also appears in Las Vegas and Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. The success of these museums lies in the concept of an immersive experience. Visitors can step into the artwork and become fully part of it, transported by both images and sound.

Immersive experiences offer a new way to enjoy art and culture, transforming static works into interactive environments. Unlike virtual reality, which allows for individual immersion, these installations are designed to be shared in groups, creating a unique collective experience. It is this aspect of sharing that makes them particularly appealing. Collectives like teamLab and companies such as d’strict have widely popularised these immersive installations in museums around the world, making art more accessible and engaging for a diverse audience. These exhibitions transform the way we interact with art, allowing us to become part of the work itself.”

Practical Information for Visiting the Arte Museum in Jeju

The museum is open daily from 10 AM to 8 PM, and entry costs between 8,000 won and 19,000 won, depending on the ticket you purchase.

  • You have the opportunity to take part in an immersive tea experience called Tea Bar.
  • The museum is located at 478 Eorimbi-ro, Aewol-eup, 특별자치도, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, South Korea.
  • To get there from Jeju City, the most convenient option is to go by taxi or rental car. Be aware that the bus does not go directly to the museum, and you will need to take a taxi midway through the journey.
  • For more information, visit the museum’s website.