The Korean Cultural Centre UK is pleased to present Mieumwanbo: Strolling through Traditional Gardens, in collaboration with the Korea Heritage Service, from 11 September to 14 November 2025. This exhibition explores the philosophy and aesthetics of traditional Korean gardens, shedding light on the harmony between nature and humanity embedded within them.
Since ancient times, Korea’s ancestors have sought dialogue with nature through gardens as a medium and strived to materialise their idea of a utopia. For them, the garden was a “painting through nature” and a “unique cultural creation shaped by time and place” — a space embodying deep philosophy and symbolism beyond mere beauty.
Mieumwanbo 微吟緩步 transcends simple garden appreciation, encompassing an aesthetic process of communing with nature and introspection.
Through large-scale digital projections, immersive soundscapes by composer Jang Young-gyu, and multisensory environments, the exhibition brings to life celebrated gardens such as Soswaewon, Bogildo, and the Secret Garden of Changdeokgung Palace. Visitors can also experience the key aesthetic concept of Chakyung (“borrowed scenery”) in a recreated pavilion space, and reflect on gardens as places of ritual, memory, and imagination.
Featuring contemporary works by Ellie Kyungran Heo and Jihae Hwang alongside literary reflections such as Korean Tea Classics, the exhibition presents the Korean garden not only as a historical legacy but also as a living source of artistic and philosophical inspiration.
This exhibition guides visitors on a contemplative journey, following in the footsteps of Korea’s ancestors who achieved harmony between nature, humanity, and art—offering a moment of slow reflection amid the rush of modern life.