Entertainers blur boundaries in art, conjure controversy

By Kwon Mee-yoo

K-pop sensation BTS member RM is one of the most influential figures in K-pop as well as Korea's contemporary art scene.

He has become a big player in the art market, raising interest in artists and exhibitions he visits and purchases he makes.

RM frequently posts his visits to art museums and galleries as well as his growing art collection on social media, inviting his fans to take an interest in contemporary art. Last month, he paid a visit to a'strict's "Starry Beach" at the Kukje Gallery and the exhibit soon became more popular, attracting hundreds of visitors daily.

He also recently donated 100 million won ($84,000) to the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) Foundation, Korea, to provide art books. The nation's flagship museum welcomed RM's positive influence in encouraging the appreciation of art.

Other known art collectors from the K-pop scene are G-Dragon and T.O.P of boy band BIGBANG. They both have been avid collectors and were listed in the ARTnews' list of "50 Art Collectors to Watch" last year.

Korean art collectors are known to be exclusive, keeping their collections private ― the collecting of art has often been cross-purposed to create slush funds and engage in money laundering. Art dealers appreciate the young K-pop collectors for changing this perception and hope for them to continue discovering and supporting new artists.

Some entertainers choose to pursue becoming visual artists, blurring the boundary between art and entertainment.

A piece by Singer Solbi, whose real name is Kwon Ji-an, garnered 9.2 million won at a recent auction. She put the piece up for auction along with other artists of the Gana Art Residence, where she has been working since earlier this year. Solbi's painting was sold for the highest price among the resident artists at the auction.

Folk singer Cho Young-nam is another entertainer who “dabbled” in the art scene. But he landed in hot water on fraud charges after selling pieces created with the help of assistants from 2011 to 2015. He claimed they just helped him by realizing his own ideas and that hiring assistants was a common practice among artists.

Cho was cleared by the Supreme Court in June. He didn't hold any solo exhibitions for five years while the case was being determined, but is now presenting his latest paintings as well as his thoughts on contemporary art.

Other noted entertainers who produce artwork and hold exhibitions include Ha Jung-woo¸ Koo Hye-sun and Naul.

Entertainment agencies have also expanded their presence in the art scene by jumping into the exhibition business.

Culture Depot, which manages A-list actors such as Jun Ji-hyun and Claudia Kim, organized the interdisciplinary art collective teamLab's exhibition "LIFE" at Dongdaemun Design Plaza.

The digital art exhibition opened last month and is garnering popularity, thanks to its "Instagrammable" contents and social media publicity through celebrities including actress Jun and Shinsegae Group Vice Chairman Chung Yong-jin.

The agency said it will continue to exhibit high-quality cultural works including holding art exhibitions, and not just rely on celebrity marketing.

Despite entertainers gaining influence in the art scene, experts worry about a possible “lack of seriousness.”

Chung Joon-mo, president of the Korea Art Authentication and Appraisal Research Center, and an independent curator, was negative towards the growing influence of entertainers in the field of fine art.

"Public taste is one of the elements for art, but it does not mean that a star entertainer can define what is good art. In a world when the authority and the status of scholars are underrated, so-called celebrities have the art world under their thumb," Chung said.

"Art should be discussed based on aesthetic judgment or the grounds of art history, however, in the post-capitalism era, consumption replaces refinement. Certain art could be people-friendly, but the basic values of refinement and enlightenment should not be inverted."

Yang Jung-moo, an art historian and Korea National University of Arts professor, also worried about a sense of deprivation full-time artists might suffer from the emergence of celebrity artists.

"Artists are trained and spend much effort to become an artist and establish distinction. However, celebrities enter the art world based on their fame and gain commercial success relatively easily. I am not against celebrity artists, but they should deal with art in a more serious, earnest way," Yang said.