The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) in Seoul has unveiled its annual wishing tree installation, inviting visitors to share their New Year’s hopes while contributing to a meaningful cause. This year’s event, running through January 5, 2025, aims to provide art therapy programs for underprivileged children across South Korea.
In the museum’s lobby, visitors can select a paper flame in one of four colors, write their resolutions or wishes on it, and hang it on one of the wishing trees. A donation box is placed nearby to collect contributions, which will fund art therapy initiatives at childcare facilities nationwide in partnership with World Vision Korea, an international relief organization.
Participants have already begun filling the trees with heartfelt messages. “I hope all this political turmoil is resolved soon, and the country can have a fresh start next year,” read one note. Another wish expressed hopes for familial happiness and the resolution of personal struggles.
Courtesy of MMCA Korea
For those unable to visit the museum in person, MMCA Seoul is also accepting donations online through its dedicated page on the platform “littly,” where contributions start as low as 1,000 won (approximately 70 cents). The wishing tree initiative has been an annual tradition at MMCA Seoul since 2016, each year adopting a new theme to inspire visitors and donors alike.
In addition to the wishing tree, the museum is currently hosting several prominent exhibitions, including Lee Kang So: Where the Wind Meets the Water, Korea Artist Prize 2024, Connecting Bodies: Asian Women Artists, and Project Hashtag 2024. These exhibitions showcase a wide range of artistic perspectives and are drawing significant attention from art enthusiasts.
The wishing tree event aligns with MMCA’s commitment to fostering community engagement through art. The museum’s director emphasized the dual significance of the initiative: offering visitors a moment of reflection and hope while directly supporting vulnerable children through creative therapeutic programs.
MMCA Seoul’s interactive approach to combining art, community, and philanthropy has resonated with the public, making the wishing tree a cherished tradition. As visitors continue to adorn the trees with their aspirations, the event underscores the enduring power of collective goodwill and the arts in driving positive change.
Sayart / ReaA JUNG, queen7203@gmail.com
Courtesy of MMCA Korea
The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) in Seoul has unveiled its annual wishing tree installation, inviting visitors to share their New Year’s hopes while contributing to a meaningful cause. This year’s event, running through January 5, 2025, aims to provide art therapy programs for underprivileged children across South Korea.
In the museum’s lobby, visitors can select a paper flame in one of four colors, write their resolutions or wishes on it, and hang it on one of the wishing trees. A donation box is placed nearby to collect contributions, which will fund art therapy initiatives at childcare facilities nationwide in partnership with World Vision Korea, an international relief organization.
Participants have already begun filling the trees with heartfelt messages. “I hope all this political turmoil is resolved soon, and the country can have a fresh start next year,” read one note. Another wish expressed hopes for familial happiness and the resolution of personal struggles.
Courtesy of MMCA Korea
For those unable to visit the museum in person, MMCA Seoul is also accepting donations online through its dedicated page on the platform “littly,” where contributions start as low as 1,000 won (approximately 70 cents). The wishing tree initiative has been an annual tradition at MMCA Seoul since 2016, each year adopting a new theme to inspire visitors and donors alike.
In addition to the wishing tree, the museum is currently hosting several prominent exhibitions, including Lee Kang So: Where the Wind Meets the Water, Korea Artist Prize 2024, Connecting Bodies: Asian Women Artists, and Project Hashtag 2024. These exhibitions showcase a wide range of artistic perspectives and are drawing significant attention from art enthusiasts.
The wishing tree event aligns with MMCA’s commitment to fostering community engagement through art. The museum’s director emphasized the dual significance of the initiative: offering visitors a moment of reflection and hope while directly supporting vulnerable children through creative therapeutic programs.
MMCA Seoul’s interactive approach to combining art, community, and philanthropy has resonated with the public, making the wishing tree a cherished tradition. As visitors continue to adorn the trees with their aspirations, the event underscores the enduring power of collective goodwill and the arts in driving positive change.
