[Photo from utour.gwangju.go.kr]

As there is Montparnasse in Paris, France, so there is the Street of Art in Gwangju. Montparnasse is proud of the fact that it has become the cultural center of the world because of its famous artists and literary men. Gwanju’s Street of Art is loved for the feel and smell of traditional culture in the heart of the city.

The Street of Art is representative of Gwangju as a culture city, just as Insadong is of Seoul. It is an area about 300 meters in length, stetching from the Gwangju Police Office in the Dong-gu (East district) of Gwangju to Jungangno Street. The area has about 90 traditional cafes, galleries, antiques stores, small theaters, drawing rooms and Chinese art supply stores. The place around Geumnamno Street, Dong-gu (East district), Gwangju Metropolitan City, has been designated as the Street of Art since 1980. As there are numerous art galleries and art supply stores there, many foreigners visiting Gwangju drop by for a look. The street has about 23 picture galleries in total.

Even if it is called the home of art, it is still difficult to sell pictures in Gwangju. However despite these difficulties a representative of Nain gallery, Yang Seungchan, who is the third son of Yang Sua, has been keeping the pride of Gwangju alive for over 10 years. Mudeug gallery local ward office was remodeled into the Mudeung Gallery, which is run by Dong-gu (East district) Office and has been a big support to local artists. There are five calligraphy brush stores which sell Korean paper, calligraphy brushes, ink-sticks and ink stones. One old book store has many prose collections of family trees. There are as many antique shops in the Street of Art as there are art galleries, such as Dongdawon, Goryeodang, Hongseogak, Maksabal, Gojeonbang, Jeongilpum, and Deoksanbang, in total about ten.

The reason why the Street of Art retains such vital power is that the past, the present and the future are made very alive. If some want to listen to LP record music that gives the feeling of being in a crowd of people, they can do so at the Sound of Music located on the other side of the Chungang elementary school back gate. There are many stores which sell products related to folk and culture in the Street of Art.

Address: Gung-dong, Dong-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City

Tel: +82 62-608 -2221