also published here: Fascinating Afternoon at Museum DAH

What comes to mind when you hear the word “museum”? Without a doubt, you immediately visualize a quiet place with impeccably curated high-valued works of art that are meant to be seen but never touched. Or you visualize exhibitions encased in glasses lest the well-preserved relics of the past will be subjected to unnecessary destruction.

Museum DAH defies this traditional idea of a museum. On the contrary, it is a place that doesn’t allow your senses to stand still. It challenges your imagination by its constantly changing and evolving visuals. It nudges you to move and look below, sideways and above you. It’s an overload of what you can dream of.

On a recent trip to Busan with Korea.net Honorary Reporters, we were suddenly transported into limitless imagination. “The Art Car Project” – a colorful mosaic of a beetle – was an understatement to the wonders of the entrance of the “Knocking on Heaven’s Gate” exhibition. Allow yourself to take in and revel at the digital performance before you move on the “Eternal Sunshine” hall, at the end of which you find yourself as the subject of the “Looking for Lost Time” area.

I was seriously at a loss for words when I found myself next standing in the middle of “Miracle Garden”. It’s an overwhelming display of digital art. It’s what the world of technology is all about. Constantly evolving and restless. There are no rules to its form, no boundaries to what the artist’s mind can create. The area of the “Dreaming Flower” exhibition is whimsical and brings you to a paradise of fairies and magic. It makes you want to dance and twirl and see yourself in your dreams surrounded by beauty and fragrance. Paula Mercado-Vial, an Honorary Reporter from the Philippines, shared “It kind of took me to a Secret Garden. When I was a little girl, I like the maze garden.”

Where traditional art is untouchable and restrictive, digital art displays at Museum DAH is encouraging and inviting for interaction. When Paula was touching the interactive screen table, she easily remembered and likened it to the highly digital interactions in some scenes of the Avengers movies. She also added, “It’s a playful museum. There are no toys but because of its high technology, you feel you can play around.” Anna Tsoi, Honorary Reporter from Russia, felt like she was a magician making things happen when she touched the interactive table.

Leading up to the second floor is the “Way to Heaven” exhibition which leads to the “Design Your Self” area where you can sit down and relax and have a cup of coffee if you feel like getting something from the café located at the second floor. Anna was amazed to see a popular painting of Monalisa and a portrait of King Sejong as moving pictures. She was impressed with this art form that makes anything possible. I ended my digital adventure at the “Art Lounge” with two big bathtubs. I am not sure how to connect the presence of the bathtubs but it doesn’t take away the magical scenes transforming before me. It is a one-of-a kind museum and it has set a high standard for those who want to do the same concept. It will be hard to replicate.

But the best thing is, the museum is for all ages. Paula correctly observed it is good for families to bring their kids in here. Anna, on the other hand, cannot keep her mind off the museum, “I was really impressed with the whole thing inside. It’s fantastic and has many areas where we can take a lot of pictures.”

Of course, the Honorary Reporters took a lot of pictures! Check out this video for a sneak peak to the Exhibition.

Museum DAH is located at Busan’s Centum City. This is one attraction you should not miss out, or else you will easily feel your Busan trip is not complete.