Kwak Yeon-soo is a digital editor at The Korea Times creating, editing and curating digital content for the newspaper’s website, mobile app and social media. She previously covered a diverse array of cultural, political and business topics.
BTS to connect with fans through contemporary art
BTS members pose for a group photo after announcing their global art project “Connect, BTS,” Jan. 14. / Courtesy of Big Hit Entertainment
By Kwak Yeon-soo
BTS teams up with artists to redefine art-music relationship
By Kwak Yeon-soo
BTS will connect with fans and share their creative philosophy by funding contemporary artists and curators around the globe.
“Connect, BTS” is a global project to connect five cities and 22 artists, each of whom will be financed to create works from their own unique philosophy and imagination, according to Big Hit Entertainment.
“This project aims to redefine the relationship between art and music, the material and immaterial, artists and their audiences, artists and artists, theory and practice,” an introductory statement on the project's website reads.
Galleries in London, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Seoul and New York will run a series of artistic events from January to March under the theme, “interconnectedness of the world.”
The “Connect, BTS” project kicked off at the Serpentine Gallery in London, Jan. 14 (local time), with the introduction of “Catharsis” by Danish artist Jakob Kudsk Steensen, which will run until March 6. “Catharsis,” a digital simulation of a forest, will also be documented online.
A series of performance works called “Rituals of Care” will open in Berlin, Jan. 15, followed by a project titled “Fly with Aerocena Pacha” in Buenos Aires, Jan. 21. Another in Seoul will start Jan. 28 and the final art show will begin in New York, Feb. 5.
In Korea, Kang Yi-yun will present a large-scale digital work called “Projection Mapping” that reimagines some of BTS' signature dance choreography.
The U.S. show will involve Antony Gormley installing a sculpture made from an 18 kilometers-long line of coiled up aluminum next to the East River in Brooklyn.
“The ultimate goal of the project is to connect individuals across the world and share BTS' philosophy, which is about diversity and hope,” said Lee Dae-hyung, the curator who directed the “Connect, BTS” initiative.
“Through this collective curatorial practice, we'd like to redefine the relationship between art and music, digital and analog, global and local, nature and humans, and build solidarity.”
Prior to joining the project, Lee curated the Korean Pavilion at the 2017 Venice Bienniale.
Meanwhile, BTS expressed their gratitude to participating artists and curators through a video message screened at the opening event in London.
“The project is meaningful to us because it represents diversity and creates a collective, positive message for the world that we value,” BTS said.
“Through this project, we hope to give back the great amount of love and support we received to our fans, ARMY, and all visitors.”
BTS will drop their new album “Map of the Soul: 7” on Feb. 21.
For more information, visit www.connect-bts.com.