BTS RM Special Exhibition to Open in San Francisco Next Month..."It Will Be a Rather Long Self-Introduction"

A special exhibition featuring the personal collection of RM, leader of the group BTS, is set to open next month on the 3rd at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA).

Running through February 7 of next year, "RM X SFMOMA: Between You and Me" marks the first time RM is showcasing the artworks he has collected to the public.

His agency, BigHit Music, stated that RM directly participated in the exhibition planning and curation, wrote the artwork descriptions in both Korean and English, and recorded the audio guide himself.

RM also personally selected the background music playing throughout the exhibition space.

Visitors can explore approximately 180 works carefully chosen by RM and SFMOMA in this exhibition.

Works by representative masters of modern and contemporary Korean art, such as Yun Hyong-keun, Park Re-hyun, Chang Ucchin, Kwon O-yeon, Kim Yoon-shin, and Do Sang-bong, will be introduced.

In addition, works from SFMOMA's collection by artists such as Kim Whanki, Nam June Paik, Mark Rothko, Agnes Martin, Henri Matisse, and Georgia O'Keeffe will meet visitors in the same space.

Among them, about 140 pieces are from RM's personal collection, with the vast majority being unveiled in the United States for the first time.

Through his agency, RM shared, "This is the first time I am sharing my collection under my own name. I think there is rarely anything that shows a person as honestly as a collection they have gathered over a long time. In that sense, this exhibition will likely feel like a rather long self-introduction."

RM explained, "My collection features many works by modern and contemporary Korean artists. Some names might still be unfamiliar outside of Korea, and I have collected them with the desire to add a better perspective and sense of appreciation, a process that has led to this exhibition."

This marks the first time SFMOMA has collaborated with a K-pop artist since its establishment.

The museum first proposed the project after taking note of RM's taste and continuous interest in contemporary art.

Christopher Bedford, director of SFMOMA, stated, "This initiative aligns closely with SFMOMA's direction to expand global dialogues surrounding art. We are creating space for new voices within the museum while inviting visitors who encounter contemporary and Korean art through RM to this place."

RM, along with his fellow BTS members, will kick off the South American leg of their world tour "Arirang" in Bogota on the 2nd of next month.

(Photo provided by BigHit Music, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.