South Korea's Contemporary Art Goes Global, Fueled by K-Pop Patrons
The influence of South Korean culture is increasingly evident in contemporary art, highlighted by the achievements of artists such as Suh Do-ho and Lee Bul. Suh's exhibition at Tate Modern last year received acclaim, while Lee's retrospective is set to debut at the Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp this November. K-pop icons like G-Dragon and RM from BTS are motivating young people to engage with fine art. After completing military service in June, RM has resumed his art collection, with his Instagram posts having the power to sell out museum exhibitions. In October, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art will present RM's curated collection, featuring renowned Korean artists. Additionally, the National Museum of Korea has become the third most-visited museum globally, showcasing popular culture. The British Museum will present 'Korea' in October, displaying pieces from the late Samsung chairman Lee Kun-hee's collection.
Key facts
- Suh Do-ho had a hit exhibition at Tate Modern last year.
- Lee Bul's retrospective opens at Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp in November.
- K-pop stars G-Dragon and BTS's RM are influential art collectors.
- RM completed military service in June and is back to collecting and performing.
- SFMOMA presents RM's personal collection in October, including works by Yun Hyong-keun, Park Rehyun, and Kim Yun Shin.
- National Museum of Korea is the third most-visited museum in the world, after the Louvre and Vatican Museums.
- Blackpink members recorded audio guides for NMK, and the museum was illuminated in hot pink for their EP.
- Frieze art fair arrived in Seoul in 2022, attracting international institutions like Centre Pompidou and V&A.
- British Museum will host 'Korea' exhibition in October, featuring works from Lee Kun-hee collection and NMK, spanning 2,000 years.
- NMK director Yoo Hong-jun hopes K-culture fans will explore Korean history.
Entities
Artists
- Suh Do-ho
- Lee Bul
- G-Dragon
- RM
- Yun Hyong-keun
- Park Rehyun
- Kim Yun Shin
- Jisoo
- Jennie
- Rosé
- Lisa
- Choi Soo
- Yoo Hong-jun
- Lee Kun-hee
Institutions
- Tate Modern
- Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp
- San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
- National Museum of Korea
- Louvre
- Vatican Museums
- Centre Pompidou
- Victoria and Albert Museum
- Frieze
- PS21
- British Museum
- Samsung
- Monocle
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Antwerp
- Belgium
- San Francisco
- United States
- Seoul
- South Korea
Sources
- Monocle —