PODO Museum's Ecological Vision and Current Exhibition 'We, Such Fragile Beings'

PODO Museum, established in 2021 on Jeju Island near Hallasan, has developed a distinctive cultural identity focused on ecological awareness and social empathy. Under executive director Chloe H. Kim, the institution integrates art with its volcanic landscape through outdoor installations by artists like Ugo Rondinone, Robert Montgomery, Gimhongsok, and SUPERFLEX. Its curatorial approach emphasizes storytelling and shared narratives rather than didactic instruction, with programming including the annual Salon de PODO. The current exhibition 'We, Such Fragile Beings' (2025–26) spans three galleries, exploring themes of conflict and coexistence inspired by the Voyager 1 'pale blue dot' image. In the Temple of Oblivion gallery, works by Mona Hatoum, Jenny Holzer, Liza Lou, and Annabel Daou address cyclical violence. Portrait of Time features Sumi Kanazawa, Maarten Baas, Sarah Sze, and Lee Wan's installation of 560 clocks examining temporal perception. Mirror of Memory, part of the ACA in PODO initiative, presents Boo Jihyun, Kim Hanyoung, Song Dong, and Sho Shibuya's reflections on memory and environment. This year also launched Sunhyewon Art Project 1.0 in Seoul, featuring Kimsooja's 'To Breathe – Sunhyewon' installation in a hanok, alongside her Bottari works and porcelain objects. The museum aims to expand its reach beyond Jeju while maintaining its focus on human fragility and ecological sensitivity.