Finding Happiness – Happy Inside

           The ultimate goal of life for mankind from the far past to the present is happiness. Classical figures such as Plato and Aristotle also thought happiness was the ultimate goal; and there is happiness at the end of every religion. Therefore, from the past, humans have studied science and trained their skills to recognize the importance of happiness and how to be happier. Now that technology is so advanced, are people happy? Since the past, we've only seen happiness, but where is our happiness? The exhibition ‘Happy Inside’ at the Seoul War Memorial answers the question through various works on happiness. Let's now look at the answers from the exhibition 'Happy Inside'!

1. Everyday Happiness

           Everyone may have once thought that yesterday and today are the same. Sometimes we feel depressed because we feel lethargic that tomorrow will be no different than today. But if we stop for a moment, we'll see. The fact that our daily lives never repeat the same moment. The first place in the exhibition expressed happiness hidden in our daily lives. Have you ever felt refreshed when the underground subway goes above ground? Nothing is as beautiful as a sunset passing the horizon. This beautiful landscape comforts modern people who go home exhausted after a day's work. Being big and grand are not the only things that're happy. The small, warm things that can easily get in our daily life are also happiness. The piece "Happy-Station" expressed the small and warm happiness that modern people can get from their daily lives.

Title: Happy-Station

2. Happiness in the Dark

           What should we do if negative emotions smite like darkness? If you cry for a while, you will feel better and be able to move on again. To accept darkness calmly is the wisdom of life. There are happy days when there are sad days, like shadows when there are light. In the second part of the exhibition, happiness is shown not only in brightness but also in darkness. There is a pile of negative words in our hearts that we'd like to say but couldn't. If these words continue to pile up and pile up, they end up causing mental illness. In the piece "The Telephone Call with The End of the World" it gives us a chance to say all these words in a cool, heart-to-heart way. This phone booth at the corner of the exhibition has a public telephone that is not connected to anyone. Visitors can say all the words that they would like to say but can’t. If visitors tell their story to a pay phone, visitors to the exhibition the next day can hear the story through a regular phone installed next to the public phone booth. Anyone who tells a story on the pay phone can also hear the story of a person who told a story on a pay phone the day before. Listening to the stories of people we can sympathize with those we don't know. The author plans to visit the Sahara Desert with recorded stories and let the recorded stories go freely.

Title: The Telephone Call with The End of the World

3. Unexpected Happiness

           Let's change our minds when misfortune strikes. Happiness will come back with a little patience, just as the hard experience of the past fades to simply a small memory. We can change our minds and change our moods. In the third part of the exhibition, it shows that we can be happy if we change our attitude just little when we are in need. This is a collaboration between artist Keykney and the exhibition ‘Happy Inside’, Keykney is an illustrator who has captivated many people. When people tell their story to Keykney, he describes it in a mall cartoon. He works with his distinctive sense of humor show us that we can laugh at anything serious. Even if you change your attitude in life like Keykney's, it's very hard to hold out until happiness comes. Why don't you try the Happy Bike? Happy bikes make the riders feel happy. Sweating under the cool wind will make you feel much better. When you're having a hard time, let's take a Happy Bike here and run!

Title: KEYKNEY X HAPPYINSIDE

Request: Please draw a picture of what my father’s camellia in house is thinking for my father who is in the hospital.

Answer: I won’t fall until I see you again. So don’t lose either.

Title: Happy Bike

4. Exciting Happiness

           Aren't we missing the happiness we just faced, while waiting too long for perfect happiness? What we need now is not to wait for perfect happiness, but to fully enjoy the happiness we already have. When the happy moment faced us, just let's have fun without minding others. In the fourth part of the exhibition, we see that it is also important not to miss the happiness we faced. There is a saying that everything in life is timing. Finding opportunities is important, but catching them when they come is more important. This place has a small space for the visitor to dance. Balloons with their arms limping all over the place are dancing excitedly. Do not miss out on the chance of happiness made by the exhibition. Don't mind other today and let's dance with excitement!

Title: Happy Dance-Time

5. Lovely Happiness

           These days, with so much to see and hear, we seem to be getting numb to emotion. Are we therefore turning a blind eye to the warmth of the world? Our lives are full of warmth, Like a doll that hugged you when you were young, and a wild flower on the roadside that comforted us when we were tired. Now, why don't you open your eyes and look at your daily scenery? Our tired and hard lives will also look more lovely. In the last part of the exhibition, they advise us to pay more attention to the small happiness that we normally ignore. There must be a doll that everyone used to sleep with when they were young. The large dolls displayed in the exhibition, and visitors can lie on top of them, reminding them of the happy memories of sleeping with the doll as a child. Passing through the room where the dolls are displayed, there is a sofa which you can lie down and a fragrant flower garden is spread out upstairs of it. While lying down, the scent of flowers will make visitors happy.

           Did you hear the answer from the exhibition Happy Inside? In the end, we didn't know, but happiness was always there for us. Although the content was hidden in emotions of various states, such as daily life, confusion, escape and joy, it is easy to find if you pay a little attention and look away. From the sunset we see on the subway on our way back home from work to the freshness we feel on bike and the flowers we smelled on the street. I recommend this exhibition to those who are still wandering because they have yet to find their own happiness.

 

Dates: 2019 4.25~2019 10.27

Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 9:30~18:00

Place: Yongsan War Memorial of Korea

Ticket Prices: Adults 15,000won

Contact: 02-709-3139