Between Gwanbangcheon Stream and Hyanggyo-ri’s Tile Murals: Exhibitions and Café at Art Center Daedam
Art Center Daedam is a cultural complex in Hyanggyo-ri, Damyang, offering an art museum, café, hands-on activities, and accommodation. Centered around its free exhibitions and café, visitors can also connect their route to Gwanbangcheon Stream, Gwanbangjerim Forest, and Juknokwon Bamboo Garden. Checking the hours and transportation information in advance makes sightseeing more convenient.
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An Art Museum in Hyanggyo-ri Created by Director Jeong Hui-nam in 2010
Art Center Daedam is located at 5-4 Eongol-gil, Damyang-eup, Damyang-gun, Jeollanam-do, and opened in June 2010 with funding provided personally by Western-style painter and director Jeong Hui-nam. It was registered that same year as Jeollanam-do Art Museum No. 14 and began as a multifunctional cultural space operating both a gallery and a café.
The name “Daedam” is said to combine the meanings of “bamboo and Damyang,” “boldness,” “conversation and friendly chats,” and “a great Damyang in the world.” It is an example of connecting Damyang’s bamboo culture and conversations among residents and visitors with the museum’s name and operating philosophy.
Why a 165㎡ Gallery and a 231㎡ Café Share One Building
According to the initial introduction, Art Center Daedam consisted of three spaces: a 165㎡ (50-pyeong) gallery, a 231㎡ (70-pyeong) café, and exhibition spaces integrated into everyday life. Thus, it is designed not merely as a place to view exhibitions, but as a space that combines appreciating art and relaxing in one visit.
The exterior uses exposed concrete, steel plates, and brick, and was designed by Jeon Hae-gap, a construction and interior-design entrepreneur and CEO of Aus Art. The setting of a modern building and an old building harmonizing within Hyanggyo-ri’s village landscape can also be understood through this composition.
The Free Museum Is Open 10:00–18:00, and the Café Until 20:30
The museum is open 10:00–18:00 / the café 10:00–20:30, and both are listed as open year-round. Museum admission is free, and an introduction by the Seoul Metropolitan Government states that café drinks start at 5,000 won.
Operating hours vary by source and period. A 2016 report introduced the museum as open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and the café from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Therefore, for a current itinerary, it is safest to finish viewing the museum before 18:00 and plan café time separately.
Getting There from Gwangju Songjeong Station via Transportation to Damyang
Travelers visiting Korea for the first time can use Gwangju Songjeong Station as their starting point. One recommended method is to travel to Gwangju Songjeong Station by KTX and then take a bus to Damyang or join a city tour. However, the publicly available information does not confirm the bus route number, stop name, or walking time from the stop to the museum.
For those driving, directions advise using National Route 15 from the Baegyangsa Interchange on the Honam Expressway. The address is 5-4 Eongol-gil, Damyang-eup, Damyang-gun, Jeollanam-do, and it is best to enter this road-name address exactly into a navigation system.
After Free Parking, Divide Your Time Between the Exhibitions and Village Alleys
Parking is available, and museum parking is listed as free. However, the number of parking spaces, peak congestion times, and conditions for large vehicles are not provided in the public information, so groups are advised to call and confirm space in advance.
No confirmed information is available regarding the recommended viewing time, wheelchair or stroller accessibility, photography restrictions, cash-only payment, English information, or the availability of an audio guide. The telephone number is listed as 061-381-0081~2, and the official website is http://daedam.kr.
Its Present Location Shaped by Gwanbangcheon, Gwanbangjerim, and Juknokwon
Art Center Daedam is situated between Juknokwon and Gwanbangcheon, with Gwanbangcheon flowing in front of the building. Nearby is Gwanbangjerim, Natural Monument No. 366, so the site has developed not as an isolated exhibition venue but as a cultural space connected to Damyang’s bamboo forests and riverside walking routes.
Hyundai Motor travel materials list the distance from the Korea Bamboo Museum to Art Center Daedam as 2.3 km (6 minutes). Along the route that follows, the materials introduce the distance from Art Center Daedam to Damlight Art Warehouse as 1.9 km (8 minutes), followed by 0.3 km (2 minutes) to Juknokwon and Damyang Food Theme Street.
From a Three-Person South American Artists’ Exhibition to International Exchange Exhibitions
The opening commemorative exhibition in 2010 was a “Three-Person South American Artists’ Exhibition,” introducing Latin American contemporary art through September 15. Around 20 works by three artists were displayed, including Monica Sarmiento Castillo and Fernando Torres Ceballos from Ecuador, and Osvaldo Herrera Graam from Panama.
The museum’s currently described direction includes contemporary-art special exhibitions and international exchange exhibitions. Since real-time exhibition schedules are not available in the published materials, travelers targeting a particular artist or exhibition should check the schedule through the website or by calling 061-381-0081~2.
Hyanggyo-ri Grandmother Artists and the Artists’ House Inside the Village
Art Center Daedam has been introduced as a place that began building relationships with local residents using art in everyday life and art that communicates as its motifs. The grandmothers of Hyanggyo-ri began learning to paint, then decorated the village and held an exhibition after about three years; a 2016 report stated that seven members continued their activities.
In the alley beside the museum, an abandoned house was renovated into an “Artists’ House” serving as a community sitting room and exhibition room, and it was also used as an artist residency in summer. On the wall at the village entrance is a tiled village map created jointly by Daedam Museum and artists, while the roof of the village hall features a light installation by artist Jin Si-yeong.
Café Daedam’s Floor-to-Ceiling Windows, Terrace, and Damyang-Style Menu
Café Daedam has floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the scenery outside, and a 2016 introduction said that the large windows provide a full view of a courtyard with a large gingko tree. A 2014 source highlighted the spacious outdoor terrace and bright, naturally lit interior.
Popular café items have included brunch sandwiches and bamboo-shoot wood-fired pizza, and café profits are reportedly used to support local artists and fund museum operations. Separate from the museum’s free admission, café drinks start at 5,000 won.
Whether to View Only the Exhibition or Also Book Accommodation and Activities
Art Center Daedam has private lodging spaces and is introduced as offering simple breakfast and art experiences together. Rest areas listed include Ginkgo House, Persimmon Tree House, Mill House, and Art Container, allowing visitors to distinguish between a day visit and an overnight stay.
Listed activities include making wooden frames, making pottery, and making bamboo umbrellas, and reports say the center also has an art-stay program and group education spaces. Since the confirmed materials do not state whether reservations are required for activities or lodging, or provide the current operating schedule, contacting 061-381-0081~2 is more suitable than making an impromptu visit.
Before You Go
- Address
- 5-4 Eongol-gil, Damyang-eup, Damyang-gun, Jeollanam-do
- Hours
- Museum 10:00–18:00 / Café 10:00–20:30
- Closed
- Open year-round
- Admission
- Free
- Phone
- 061-381-0081~2
- Official site
- http://daedam.kr
- Transport
- Use National Route 15 from the Baegyangsa Interchange on the Honam Expressway; after traveling to Gwangju Songjeong Station by KTX, buses to Damyang or a city tour are available
- Parking
- Available / free at the museum
The information above is current as of the time of writing. Check the official information again before visiting.
Places
Nearby Attractions 3
-
1
Juknokwon Bamboo GardenStroll along paths through a lush bamboo forest while taking in the scenery of Damyang. -
2
Gwanbangjerim ForestEnjoy a forest stroll along the old tree-lined path by the Yeongsan River. -
3
Dambit Art WarehouseA cultural space where you can enjoy exhibitions and a café in a former grain warehouse.
Food & Dining 2
-
4
Damyang GuksudangA Korean restaurant where you can enjoy banquet noodles and tteokgalbi together. -
5
SinsikdangA traditional Korean restaurant serving Damyang-style tteokgalbi and rice cooked in bamboo tubes.
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